A man who drove his car into a crowd at a Christmas market in December 2024 stood before the Magdeburg District Court. Six people were killed and more than 320 people were injured, including children. MDR SACHSEN-ANHALT reports in the ticker on the proceedings, key statements and reactions from the courtroom.
07:00 | Magdeburger followed the process with mixed feelings
About eleven months after the Christmas market attack, the people of Magdeburg still cannot forget this incident. In the MDR survey, they expressed disappointment and said that sadness in the city was still palpable.
Listen to the audio here to see how Magdeburg society is doing in the months after the attack:
Opinions in the field regarding temporary trials and courtrooms remain controversial. In the MDR survey, several people said they did not understand why the trial took so long and why the killer was given such a big stage. Other parties understand that rule of law has rules and there needs to be room for many plaintiffs.
You can hear these and other opinions in audio here:
Just days after the attack, the MDR drafted a comprehensive opinion. In it, the MDRfragt community, which has nearly 23,000 members, comments on, among other things, the strength of the police and confidence in internal security.
Sunday 19:58 | Temporary courtroom with height Safety standards
A temporary courthouse was built in Magdeburg for the trial. The area is around 4,700 square meters, while the actual courtroom is around 2,000 square meters and can accommodate up to 700 people. The building was specially designed for this procedure and, according to the district court, meets the highest security requirements. This includes access control, locks and private areas for the defendant. Separate zones are also provided for media and litigants.
Sunday 17:17 | The trial began with the reading of the indictment
The Magdeburg regional court is expected to open the main hearing on Monday. In large jury trials, the indictment is usually read at the beginning so that everyone involved in the trial and the public have the same level of information. The Naumburg Public Prosecutor charged the defendant with, among other things, six counts of murder, attempted murder in hundreds of cases and aggravated assault in more than 300 cases.
Sunday 16:42 | The trial started on November 10:47 Negotiation days planning
The trial attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market began on Monday. The Magdeburg regional court announced that 47 appointments were initially planned until mid-March. Further meetings with negotiations up to three days per week are possible.
The Naumburg Public Prosecutor’s Office has charged Taleb A., among others, with the murder of six people. He faces life in prison followed by preventive detention. According to the court, jurisdiction remained in Magdeburg because the Federal Prosecutor’s Office rejected the takeover due to a lack of connection to the state.
A 4,700 square meter temporary courthouse was built for the trial. The hall offers space for around 700 people. More about this in the video.
MDR (Hannes Leonard)
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MDR SAXONY-ANHALT TODAY | November 10, 2025 | 19:00
