Magdeburg's Christmas market facing approval stop due to safety deficiencies!

Magdeburg's Christmas market facing approval stop due to safety deficiencies!

In Magdeburg there are currently considerable concerns about the Christmas market, which has not yet received approval due to a criticized security concept. Mayor Simone Borris informed the city council of this decision at a special meeting, which resulted in almost a year of preliminary skirmishes after the devastating attack on the weekly market in December 2022. This attack killed six people and injured around 300. The trial of the attacker, a 51-year-old man from Saudi Arabia, began at the same time, increasing attention on the security situation.

In a letter, the state administration office cited deficiencies in access protection and the presence of security forces. The Weihnachtsmarkt GmbH is accused of not having adequately fulfilled its obligations. However, Borris emphasized that the Christmas market company was open to suggestions for improvement, but rejected some of the requested measures. She made it clear that the defense against specific threats should be viewed as a state task. Nevertheless, there is still hope that the Christmas market can take place despite the difficulties.

Events in other cities

Given concerns about safety, the requirements for Christmas markets across Germany are becoming stricter. In Overath and Kerpen, for example, Christmas markets have already been canceled due to stricter requirements. In Dortmund, safety precautions were also checked again in 2022, which led to improvements. This shows how seriously cities take the issues of security and terrorist attacks.

The security costs in other regions are enormous. In Essen-Steele, for example, annual spending on security amounts to a good hundred thousand euros. But these measures seem necessary because the organizers expect more than a million visitors to come. The news that the police will also be present at the Cologne Christmas market at Heumarkt in 2024 is all the more pleasing. The organizers are satisfied with the current safety precautions installed by the city's civil engineering department.

The Christmas market offer in Germany

The Magdeburg Christmas market is not the only one that has to deal with challenges. In Munich, for example, the Christmas markets only start at the end of November and attract numerous visitors who enjoy the traditional charm of the individual markets. The Munich Christmas market at Marienplatz opens its doors from November 24th to December 24th, 2025 and offers lots of attractions such as a large Advent calendar and a children's workshop. The Viktualienmarkt and the Tollwood Winter Festival also attract many people and increase the sense of community in the run-up to Christmas.

In summary, security at Christmas markets is more important than ever. The Magdeburg Christmas market exemplifies the challenges that many cities face, while the anticipation of the festive atmosphere remains unbroken. Organizers and authorities have a responsibility to take measures to ensure the safety of guests while preserving the magical atmosphere of the Christmas markets.