The state network of migrant organizations in Saxony-Anhalt (LAMSA) raised concerns on Tuesday about a rise in anti-foreigner attacks following this month’s tragic incident in Magdeburg.
“There are increasing reports of racist hostility against people with a migration background. Documented incidents show the mood in parts of the population is extremely tense,” said Mamad Mohamad, LAMSA’s managing director, in a statement.
“People with a migration background feel unsafe and are hesitant to go out on the streets in Magdeburg. We are especially worried that the situation could deteriorate further on New Year’s Eve,” he added.
Mohamad called on residents of Magdeburg, along with political leaders and civil society organizations, to take “a clear stance against racist agitation and violence.”
The concerns follow a December 20 attack when a man drove a car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing five people and injuring more than 200.
The suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, has been described as anti-Islam and a supporter of far-right ideologies and Zionism. He had been living in Germany since 2006 and worked as a psychiatrist in Bernburg, south of Magdeburg.
