Viktor Orbán blames immigration and EU for deadly attack in Germany

In Germany, a tragic incident occurred on December 20, 2024, when a Saudi-born man drove his vehicle into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, resulting in five fatalities and over 200 injuries. The perpetrator, a 50-year-old psychiatrist known for his anti-Islam views, had lived in Germany for nearly two decades. In response to this attack, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticized the European Union's migration policies, asserting that they contribute to such violent acts. He expressed condolences to the victims' families and the German public, emphasizing a belief that such incidents only started rising after the migration crisis in 2015, a claim that has been contested by historical data. Orbán has maintained that Hungary must act decisively to prevent such occurrences from becoming commonplace in his country, echoing his government's long-standing hostility toward mass migration and strict border control measures implemented since the migrant crisis began. This incident represents a turning point in the ongoing discourse regarding immigration in Europe, highlighting divisions on how to approach the intersection of migration and security in public spaces during festive times.