Overview
- State supervisors ordered Magdeburg not to issue a permit, labeling the market a potential attack target and citing shortcomings in vehicle barriers, entry controls and security staffing.
- Mayor Simone Borris argues concrete terror defense is a state responsibility and appealed to Premier Reiner Haseloff, who convened a city–Landesverwaltungsamt meeting for Wednesday to find a fix.
- The organizer says it is adding measures such as more security personnel and clearer competence rules but rejects full enclosure of the site and blanket liability for terror or amok events, and setup continues.
- The city says it must withhold approval under the directive, had budgeted about €250,000 for protections, and warns of severe time pressure on contracts and traders ahead of the planned November 20 opening.
- Scrutiny is heightened by the trial of the 2024 suspect, who acknowledged planning the attack, while larger markets in Saxony proceed with reinforced safeguards and some smaller towns scale back or cancel over costs.