Trial after fatal Christmas market attack: Taleb A. motionless!
Trial against Taleb A. begins after attack at Magdeburg Christmas market, in which six people died and over 300 were injured.

Trial after fatal Christmas market attack: Taleb A. motionless!
On November 10, 2025, a trial began in Magdeburg that shocked the region. Almost eleven months after the tragic death trip through the Christmas market, Taleb A. is on trial for his devastating attack. How tagesschau.de According to reports, the defendant confessed to having been behind the wheel of the car, but shows no remorse for his actions.
The devastating incident, which occurred on December 20, 2024, left six people dead, including a nine-year-old boy. Over 300 people were injured, many of whom are still struggling with physical and mental consequences. The attack is considered one of the worst of its kind in Germany's post-war history. Taleb A. planned the bloody act several weeks in advance, motivated by a feeling of insult and frustration, as the prosecution explains. Their assessment is clear: it is an “insidious attack.”
Process starts with emotional reactions
At the opening of the proceedings, Taleb A. observed from a secured glass box, surrounded by rigid security measures and masked judicial officers. The presiding judge Dirk Sternberg warned him to comment on the allegations. Instead, A. commented confusingly on various topics without specifically addressing the charges. His statements caused many of the co-plaintiffs in the courtroom to react in shock, and some temporarily left the room.
The public prosecutor's office has counted a total of 338 people as victims whom it accuses of attempted murder. At the start of the trial, the defendant also presented a laptop with the inscription “#MagdeburgGate” and “Sept. 2026,” referring to the upcoming elections in Saxony-Anhalt, thus causing additional discontent. When the judges asked why he didn't want to comment on the alleged acts, he instead talked about religion, media and other topics.
Event security in focus
In view of the tragic events, the preparations for the 2025 Christmas market are under a bad star. The mayor of Magdeburg announced that no permit was granted for the Christmas market this year because the organizer's security concept was classified as inadequate. This means that the market is officially viewed as a potential target for further attacks.
Considering the seriousness of the procedure, massive security precautions were taken. The court, which is used as a lightweight hall, is surrounded by a barbed wire fence and mobile bollards. Police presence and judicial officers are constantly on duty to ensure the safety of everyone involved during the trial.
A total of almost 50 days of negotiations are scheduled until March 12, 2026. The situation requires forward planning and a high level of sensitivity, both for those affected and for the general public. Even though the trial has only just begun, society in Magdeburg and beyond remains affected by the consequences of this terrible act.