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Santa Claus in court: Child injury case dismissed!
Trial against Santa Claus actor in Stralsund stopped: 62-year-old has to pay fine, allegations remain unclear.
Santa Claus in court: Child injury case dismissed!
A bizarre incident caused a stir in the pre-Christmas mood in Stralsund. On June 26, 2025, the district court discontinued the trial against a 62-year-old Santa Claus actor who was accused of injuring a four-year-old boy with a pine branch. The incident occurred in November 2024 at a Christmas market in Stralsund, where tempers became heated and the situation got out of hand. The public prosecutor had accused the defendant of causing grievous bodily harm, but the facts could not be clearly clarified in court
The defendant, who previously made many children's eyes shine as Santa Claus, admitted that he had reprimanded the boy. However, he denied hurting him. According to reports ndr.de the child had provoked the actor by sticking out his tongue and calling him “stupid”. The public prosecutor finally agreed to discontinue the proceedings and the defendant accepted a fine of 4,000 euros, which will go to a youth welfare facility.
The security situation during the Christmas markets
This incident gave additional impetus to the discussion about safety at Christmas markets. After recent events, such as the tragic attack in Solingen, it is clear that the security situation in Germany is being intensively discussed at public events. Security authorities warn of an increased risk of attacks, particularly by lone perpetrators. In order to ensure greater safety, the federal government has put together a comprehensive security package, which also includes a general ban on knives at Christmas markets from November 1st. Visitors are monitored at the entrance and their bags are carefully checked
According to reports t-online.de the police union (GdP) has emphasized the importance of confiscating dangerous items. In addition to the newly implemented security concepts, which rely on proven models, the police and security forces are well prepared to be able to react to various dangerous situations. At Christmas markets in particular, the focus is on the safety of visitors, as can be seen in cities such as Stuttgart and Leipzig. Various measures such as additional bollards and mobile guards were introduced there to maintain the atmosphere despite concerns about security.
It remains to be hoped that incidents like the altercation at the Stralsund Christmas market do not dampen the festive mood and that the organizers and security forces continue to work to create a safe environment for everyone. What is certain is that it is important to maintain the balance between party spirit and safety.