Overview
- The city granted the market’s permit after final inspections, allowing a Thursday opening nearly a year after the 2024 vehicle attack.
- Magdeburg added certified vehicle barriers and reorganized security staffing, investing about €250,000 in access protection including new bollards.
- The Landesverwaltungsamt had identified serious deficiencies in vehicle access protection and security organization, leading to revisions agreed with police.
- Other cities are tightening safeguards: Dresden is installing access blocks and closing streets, Duisburg approved video-surveillance towers, and Göttingen is funding new bollards and traffic changes.
- Stricter requirements are also leading to cancellations or reductions, with Düsseldorf’s planned Gerresheimer Weihnachtszauber not approved to proceed.