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Thuringia is preparing: Christmas markets with the highest security precautions
Christmas markets in Suhl and Thuringia are equipping themselves with new security measures to offer protection against possible dangers.
Thuringia is preparing: Christmas markets with the highest security precautions
With the contemplative time of the year just around the corner, Thuringia is upgrading its Christmas markets. A topic that is on many minds is the security precautions that are being taken in the cities of Jena, Erfurt, Eisenach, Weimar, Sonneberg, Suhl, Mühlhausen and Gera. The local authority is investing in mobile road barriers, concrete blockers and additional security staff to provide a reassuring environment for visitors. n-tv reports that despite these measures there is no concrete evidence of an increased risk situation. This is particularly encouraging considering incidents at Christmas markets in the past.
The event on December 20, 2024, when an attack shook the Magdeburg Christmas market, left clear traces. Six people died, including a nine-year-old boy, and over 300 were injured. This incident was a wake-up call for German cities to revise their security concepts. In this tense situation, Jena is investing around 150,000 euros in security measures, which include access protection and mobile barriers as well as protection against theft and fire protection. Thüringen24 highlights that there was no specific evidence of an increase in crime in recent years.
The high price of security
However, the security measures do not come without costs. How Tagesschau reports, high security requirements put a strain on the organizers' budget planning. Smaller markets in particular are feeling the pressure, as they often do not have the financial resources to implement comprehensive security concepts. It is becoming increasingly difficult for many cities and event teams to provide the costly terror barriers and the necessary security personnel. In Jena, for example, the stand fee for stand operators has remained constant since 2016, despite the increased security costs.
Practical solutions are needed: those responsible in Thuringia have agreed that the Christmas markets will be set up individually, with their own security concepts that are adapted to the respective circumstances of the locations. These high investments in security are intended, among other things, to ensure that the Christmas markets can take place as usual. This also includes the announcement of a “Quiet Hour” on Thursdays, starting in 2024, to enable people with noise sensitivity to have a stress-free visit.
Overall, it can be seen that the anticipation for the festive events remains unbroken, even if the security precautions in all cities are becoming more intensive and expensive. Safety efforts are of utmost importance for everyone involved so that citizens and visitors can have a carefree Christmas.