Overview
- The city said a seven-page review from the Saxony-Anhalt Landesverwaltungsamt flagged the market as a potential attack target and criticized the security plan, leading to no permit for now.
- Officials interpreted the state’s guidance as requiring entry controls and certified vehicle barriers for up to 7.5-tonne vehicles, with further concerns noted over staffing and youth protection.
- Mayor Simone Borris disputed the state’s stance on organizer liability, noting Magdeburg has allocated roughly €250,000 for protections while still seeking a way for the market to open as planned on November 20.
- The announcement coincided with the start of the trial of Taleb A., accused of driving into the 2024 Magdeburg market, with charges including six counts of murder and hundreds of attempted murders.
- Smaller markets in North Rhine-Westphalia face cancellations or scaled-back formats due to unaffordable security and energy costs, with Overath scrapping its event and Kerpen switching to a lower-cost “Genussmarkt.”