German Vice Chancellor Warns Against Anti-Muslim Hatred Following Christmas Market Attack

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck issued a warning on Monday to the public against fostering hatred towards Muslims and foreigners after a tragic incident at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Anadolu Agency reported.

In a video message shared on social media, Habeck stated, “Don’t believe what propagandists on the internet want you to believe. The lie travels faster than the truth.” He urged citizens to take time to seek the truth, remain skeptical, and ask questions, emphasizing the importance of not succumbing to hate.

His remarks came in response to a far-right protest that occurred after a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, described as anti-Islam and a supporter of far-right ideologies and Zionism, drove his car into the Christmas market, resulting in five fatalities and over 200 injuries. The suspect, who moved to Germany in 2006, had been working as a psychiatrist in Bernburg, south of Magdeburg. He had previously expressed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, known for its opposition to Muslim immigration, and had shared content related to anti-Islam groups in Europe, including a map depicting the so-called “Greater Israel,” which encompasses parts of Turkish territory.