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Magdeburg Withholds Christmas Market Permit Over Unresolved Security Plan

The mayor notified the city council that approval is paused pending revisions to crowd and barrier protections after last year’s deadly car attack.

Overview

  • City officials said ongoing disputes over the event’s security concept mean the market will not receive a permit at this time.
  • Mayor Simone Borris briefed the Magdeburg city council in a special evening session on the decision.
  • The market had been slated to open on November 20, leaving the start date uncertain while the plan is reworked.
  • The criminal trial tied to the attack began Monday morning, marking a parallel legal milestone as planners reassess safeguards.
  • Investigators have focused on how the driver accessed the market between a pedestrian signal and concrete barriers in the December 20, 2024 incident that killed six and injured more than 300.