The mother of nine-year-old Andre Gleissner, who was killed in the devastating Christmas market attack in Magdeburg, Germany, has paid tribute to her son, describing him as “my little teddy bear.” Andre was among at least five victims who died when a car ploughed into a crowd on Friday evening, injuring more than 200 others.
In an emotional Facebook post, Desiree Gleissner shared her heartbreak, stating, “Let my little teddy bear fly around the world again… Andre didn’t do anything to anyone… He was only with us on earth for nine years… why you… why. I don’t understand. Now you are with grandma and grandpa in heaven. They missed you very much as we miss you here now. You will always live on in our hearts… I promise you that.”
A GoFundMe page set up for Andre’s family raised nearly €50,000 (£41,500) before it was closed, with many expressing their condolences. Franziska Helbich, a colleague of Andre’s mother, wrote, “Andre was so looking forward to Christmas but will never be able to unwrap his presents. With his cheerful smile and zest for life, Andre leaves a big gap in the hearts of his family, friends, and all those who knew him.”
Following overwhelming public requests, the page was reopened for further donations, with a large portion of the funds intended to support other victims of the attack.
Tributes and Investigation
Tributes have poured in for Andre, who was also a member of the children’s fire brigade in Warle. The Schoppenstedt fire department and Lower Saxony youth fire brigade have both expressed their condolences, pledging support to his family during this difficult time.
German authorities have arrested a 50-year-old suspect, named in media reports as Taleb A, a Saudi citizen who worked as a doctor in Germany. He is being investigated for five counts of suspected murder and 205 counts of suspected attempted murder. The suspect had previously been flagged by authorities for threatening behavior, and investigations are ongoing.
A memorial service was held on Saturday evening in Magdeburg’s cathedral, attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. In his tribute, Chancellor Scholz expressed solidarity with the city, stating, “The whole of Germany stands in these dark hours with the people of Magdeburg.”
Residents of Magdeburg have described their shock and trauma following the attack, with many struggling to process the senseless violence.
