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Cologne Opens Karneval Season as Police Enforce Knife, Drone and Glass Bans

City agencies manage crowds through controlled access, rerouted transit, dedicated support services.

Overview

  • More than 1,000 police are deployed with 450 municipal officers and about 1,200 private security staff, enforcing a knife ban with fines up to €10,000 and checking for weapon replicas, while officials report no specific threat and maintain enhanced protection at the nearby synagogue.
  • A citywide drone prohibition applies in central hotspots from 06:00 to 02:00, and broad glass restrictions are in force with collection points and on-the-spot enforcement to reduce injuries.
  • Access to the Kwartier Latäng around Zülpicher Straße is controlled via fixed entry points with temporary closures at capacity, supported by youth workers, medical posts, and a temporary treatment center.
  • KVB alters service with selective station closures and reroutes, including changes on lines 5, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18, replacement buses on key segments, and a temporary platform at Barbarossaplatz to manage passenger flow.
  • Support for vulnerable people includes EDELGARD mobile teams and safe spaces with a hotline reachable from 10:00 to 01:00 at 0221 221 277 77, plus the Guardy safety app at Heumarkt, as early crowds gather under mild, mostly dry weather.