Mum of boy, 9, killed in German Christmas market rampage says her ‘teddy bear’ is ‘in heaven’ in heartbreaking post
THE youngest victim of the German Christmas market attack has been named as his mum leads the tributes for her “little teddy bear”.
Nine-year-old André Gleißner has been pictured for the first time since the tragedy that also took the lives of four women and left another 205 injured.
A 50-year-old Saudi doctor, named by local media as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, was arrested at the market after he allegedly went on the deadly three minute rampage.
The suspect was hauled into court by armed cops last night and now faces five murder charges.
Gleißner’s heartbroken mum Désirée took to social media for the first time since the market attack to post an emotional message to her boy.
It read: “Let my little teddy bear fly around the world again.
“André didn’t do anything to anybody. He was only with us on Earth for nine years. Why you? Just why?
“I don’t understand. Now you are with grandma and grandpa in heaven.
“They missed you very much, as much as we miss you here now. You will always live in our hearts. I promise you that.”
Thousands of tributes soon poured in for the young boy with Désirée’s Facebook post being shared by over 185,000 people.
Popular German DJ, Jan Leyk, left an emotional post where he described Gleißner as a “little angel”.
He said: “You were still a child, an innocent little person who had just begun to discover the world – a world that was supposed to love and protect you.
“Instead she failed you. Your life was ended far too soon and so tragically, and I can’t believe that you are gone.
“Rest in peace, little angel. May the love of your family surround you for eternity, and may your destiny remind us that it can never come back.”
Four women aged 45, 52, 67 and 75 also died in the fatal car attack.
None of the victims are yet to be officially named by German authorities.
It comes as…
- Five confirmed dead, including one nine-year-old boy
- Over 205 injured with dozens in a critical condition
- Suspect named as Saudi doctor Taleb al-Abdulmohsen
- Taleb hauled into court
- Driver went on 3 minute rampage
- Police issue UK terror warning over fears of “copycat strike”
- Harry Kane leads tributes to victims
- German authorities ‘warned three times‘ by Saudi about doctor’s plot
Officials are still fearing the number of deaths could rise with 41 of those injured still in a serious condition.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the people of Magdeburg yesterday that he is still “very worried” over their health.
Along with the five counts of murder al-Abdulmohsen is also being investigated over 205 counts of suspected attempted murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm, prosecutor Horst Walter Nopens said.
Footage showed the suspect being transported from a police van and led into Magdeburg District Court late last night.
He appeared to be wearing an orange jump suit with a grey jumper and white top.
At least six armed officers flanked behind the alleged killer who had his hands cuffed behind his back.
The judge ordered he remained in custody on the multiple severe charges.
The suspect was then taken to a nearby pre-trial correctional facility, Welt reported.
Reports of the market attack were first reported at 7.02pm local time on Friday when a rental BMW veered off a car-friendly road and onto Breiter Weg – a street designed for tram lines only.
The driver is believed to have hit several pedestrians here at first before quickly turning right onto Alter Markt where many market revellers had gathered.
He was travelling at up to 40mph when the car first rammed dozens of people, horrified witnesses said.
Who is Taleb al-Abdulmohsen?
THE man suspected of killing five people after ramming them with his car at a German Christmas market is a 50-year-old Saudi doctor.
Ever since he was identified by local media a number of revelations about his past have emerged.
It has been reported that Taleb is an anti-Islam activist who arrived in Germany in 2006 as a refugee from Saudi Arabia, according to Bild.
German interior minister Nancy Faeser confirmed to reporters today that the suspect is Islamophobic.
The doctor is also said to have shared hundreds of strange posts on his social media in the days before the attack.
One allegedly claimed he felt that Germany wanted to “Islamicise” Europe, the newspaper reported.
He is reportedly also a vocal supporter of the hard-Right AfD party.
Taleb has lived in the nearby town of Bernburg – just over 30 minutes from Magdeburg – since fleeing the Middle East.
German media say he became a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy and works in the neighbouring town.
He has been officially recognised as a refugee since 2016, local media say.
German media also say they have spotted Taleb in a BBC documentary back in 2019.
The ground was covered in blood and tinsel as doctors scrambled to treat the injured, onlookers added.
The car went “through people” and sent others “going over it”, a man standing just feet away from the crash added.
Officials say the street had no bollards at its entrance as city authorities had wanted it to be able to be used by emergency services.
After three minutes of devastation the driver stopped and was quickly surrounded by oncoming cops.
Footage showed suspect al-Abdulmohsen speaking to officers as he voluntarily gave himself up and laid on the street before being arrested.
Market organisers released a heartfelt statement on the tragedy yesterday that read: “We are in deep mourning, and our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, relatives and helpers.
“The Christmas market and the world of lights are over.”
Following on from the attack, thousands gathered to mourn the victims along with government officials and emergency service workers at a moving memorial service at Magdeburg Cathedral.
Candles were lit in solidarity with hundreds of flowers and cuddly toys being laid outside in a makeshift mural.