Nine-year-old boy killed in German Christmas market attack named as Andre Gleissner

The mother of a nine-year-old boy killed in the German Christmas market attack has paid tribute to “my little teddy bear”.

Andre Gleissner was one of at least five people who died, while more than 200 others were injured when a car ploughed into crowds in Magdeburg on Friday evening.

German Christmas market attack – latest updates

His mother Desiree Gleissner said in a post on Facebook: “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 to support Andre’s family raised nearly 50,000 euros before it was closed.

Franziska Helbich, a work colleague of his mum, wrote on the page Andre “was so looking forward to Christmas” but “will never be able to unwrap his presents”.

“With his cheerful smile and his zest for life, Andre leaves a big gap in the hearts of his family, friends and all those who knew him,” she said.

German police have confirmed four women, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75 were also among those killed in the incident.

A 50-year-old suspect was remanded in custody after appearing before a judge on Saturday evening.

He has been named by German media as Taleb A, with his surname being withheld in line with privacy laws, although the name has not been confirmed by German authorities.

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