The Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and the German Bishops’ Conference have expressed deep shock at the “inhuman attack” at Magdeburg’s Christmas Market on Friday.
At least five people were killed and 200 others injured when a car drove through the crowded market. The perpetrator is in custody, but the motive remains unknown.
“The inhumane attack in Magdeburg leaves [us] stunned,” EKD’s Bishop Kirsten Fehrs and Bishop Georg Bätzing of the German Bishops’ Conference said in a joint statement.
“The horror, grief and sympathy are felt by many people throughout Germany and the world today. Our thoughts and prayers are in Magdeburg at this time. As churches, we mourn with the families of the victims of this terrible attack and pray for the injured and the deceased, as well as for their relatives who now fear for their loved ones. So many innocent people have fallen victim to this senseless violence just before Christmas.
“We would like to thank the dedicated emergency services, who have been caring for the injured since yesterday and are working hard to find out what happened, as well as the emergency chaplains who are supporting people and accompanying traumatised individuals at this time.”
The Central German regional bishop, Friedrich Kramer, expressed similar sentiments, saying that prayers and thoughts were with the victims and their families. The Catholic bishop of Magdeburg, Gerhard Feige, called the act especially horrifying and abysmal during the days before Christmas. He described the incident as a social challenge to “oppose all forms of extremism even more decisively and to work even harder for peaceful coexistence.”
Magdeburg Cathedral was initially opened on Friday evening for those seeking solace but was later closed for security reasons. It was then reopened on Saturday where a vigil service was held. A memorial site has been established at the west portal of St. John’s Church, near the scene of the attack.