Overview

• Police evacuated Christmas markets at Rudolfplatz on Saturday and Heumarkt on Sunday after finding abandoned suitcases.
• Both suitcases were examined by bomb disposal teams and found to contain only bags of sand, posing no actual threat.
• Authorities are investigating the incidents as potential disruptions of public peace and are analyzing the suitcases for fingerprints and other evidence.
• The two cases are believed to be connected due to their similarities, though the motive remains unclear, ranging from a prank to a possible test of police response.
• Heightened security measures are in place at Christmas markets in North Rhine-Westphalia, though officials report no specific threats of attacks.