Monday's top story: Bavarian interior minister says foiled Christmas market attack was 'not imminent'
Investigators in Bavaria suspect an Islamist motive behind the alleged attack plans on a Christmas market that were uncovered over the weekend.
However, the current state of the investigation does not lead them to believe the "attack was imminent," Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said on Sunday in Munich.Â
Herrmann, like the police in Straubing, Lower Bavaria, said that there are no further immediate threats. "We have a corresponding security concept for every Christmas market, as for all similar events, which is determined by the local municipality," Herrmann said, adding that "all necessary measures had been taken".
Five male suspects were arrested on Friday evening. According to the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office and the police, this may have prevented an attack on a Christmas market in the Dingolfing-Landau area.
Authorities were alerted to the suspicion of a planned attack by a foreign intelligence service and, based on information from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Germany's domestic intelligence agency), the police arrested the men.
"It would be nice if this remained an isolated incident, but unfortunately, we have to expect that this is the beginning of another wave of attacks," German Police Union chair Jochen Kopelke told the Funke Media Group on Sunday.
Central Council of Jews in Germany warns of further increase in antisemitic attacks
The Central Council of Jews in Germany has expressed concern about increasing antisemitic violence following the attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia that killed eleven people.
"Attacks on Jewish institutions and events worldwide are becoming more frequent and more deadly," said Central Council President Josef Schuster on Sunday in Berlin. "The terrorists aim to destroy our Western way of life and celebration. We must never allow this to happen," he said.
"We must understand that this attack on a Hanukkah celebration was not random," he said, adding that it is "the pattern of antisemitic terror to choose holidays in order to murder unsuspecting and defenceless people."
Those killed were taking part in an event marking the start of the Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday, according to police. Australian authorities described it as an antisemitic "terrorist attack."
READ ALSO: Germany sees rising number of antisemitism reports
Zelensky, US envoys to push on with Ukraine talks in Berlin on Monday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was set to push on with talks in Berlin on Monday with US President Donald Trump's envoys on how to end the grinding war with Russia.
As the conflict raged on, Zelensky's delegation huddled for over five hours on Sunday with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Witkoff said afterwards on X that "a lot of progress was made, and they will meet again tomorrow morning."
Their meeting was held under tight security in the chancellery in Berlin, where German Chacnellor Friedrich Merz was Monday due to host a dinner with Zelensky, a group of European leaders and the NATO and EU chiefs.
An AFP photographer saw the Ukrainian leader leave the chancellery shortly before 9:00 pm.
Kyiv and its allies in Europe are at pains to prevent any settlement that would strongly favour Russia.
READ ALSO: Germany to send soldiers to fortify Poland border
Key questions remain on Ukrainian territorial concessions, future security guarantees for Kyiv, and whether Moscow would agree to any proposal hammered out by the Europeans and Americans.
"We want a lasting peace in Ukraine," Merz wrote on X. "Difficult questions lie ahead of us, but we are determined to move forward.
"Ukrainian interests are also European interests."
AfD lawmaker calls for US-German nationalist alliance
A German AfD lawmaker called for an alliance between US and German nationalist parties at a gala hosted by the New York Young Republican Club on Saturday, Reuters reported.
Markus Frohnmaier, deputy chair of the far-right party in the Bundestag, was being honoured at the MAGA (Make America Great Again) gala. He was one of around 20 state, federal and EU lawmakers from Germany's AfD party to attend.
READ ALSO: Alternative for Germany members travel to the US on taxpayer money
The state-wide chapter of the New York Young Republicans Club was recently revealed by Politico to have had a group chat in which high-ranking club leaders exchanged off-colour remarks, including messages praising Adolf Hitler.
"The alliance between American and German patriots is the nightmare of the liberal elites – and it is the hope of the free world," Frohnmaier said in a speech at the gala.
Miners' parades take place in Saxony on the third Advent weekend
Bergparaden – traditional miners’ parades – took place in towns in Saxony over the weekend including Zwickau, Seiffen, Schwarzenberg and Marienberg.
The parades, which celebrate the miners who once shaped the economy and identity of the Ore Mountains (Ergebirge) typically take place on the third Sunday of the Advent period.
In Schwarzenberg, for example, hundreds of miners in historic uniforms – carrying miners picks and lamps – marched through the town centre accompanied by brass bands and “bergmännische” music.
Although most major Bergparaden take place on the third Sunday of Advent, some are scheduled to take place next weekend. In Annaberg-Buchholz, for example, a large Bergparade on Sunday, December 21st is expected to attract visitors from across Saxony and beyond.
For many locals, these late-season Bergparaden can represent an emotional high point of the regional Christmas calendar.
READ ALSO: 10 things you never knew about the German state of Saxony
With reporting by AFP
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