Nearly a year after the deadly attack on the Magdeburg Christmas Market, the city administration has so far withheld approval for this year’s market due to security concerns. Mayor Simone Borris informed the city council in an emergency meeting, the city announced Monday evening on its Facebook page. Earlier that morning, the trial of the suspected perpetrator of the 2024 attack began at the Magdeburg Regional Court.
According to the city, the reason for withholding the permit is a letter from the State Administration Office criticizing this year’s security plan submitted by the market organizers. The organizers, it said, were creating “a potential target for an attack” with the Christmas market. The State Administration Office also criticized the Christmas Market Company for assigning responsibility for potential attacks and acts of violence to the police and security authorities. Additionally, there were concerns regarding child and youth protection.
Borris expressed surprise at the letter from the State Administration Office. “Until now, no one had informed us in this way that the Magdeburg Christmas Market this year, merely by operating, would become a potential target for an attack,” she told the city council. She added that no explanation had been provided for this assessment. Nevertheless, the city would take the statement very seriously, “because safety has absolute priority.”
Borris had little understanding for the criticism that responsibility for preventing attacks was being placed on the police. “All experts agree that concrete counterterrorism measures are a state responsibility, and not something for the organizer of a Christmas market to be held accountable for,” she told the council.
The city further interpreted the letter from the State Administration Office as a demand for entry controls and certified vehicle barriers capable of stopping vehicles weighing up to 7.5 tons. “However, why such a measure would be sufficient, given that attacks can also be carried out with vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tons, is not explained,” the city of Magdeburg stated.
Borris warned of a devastating signal if the Magdeburg Christmas Market were unable to take place. That would be “a capitulation of the wider city community in the face of the attack” and would “contradict our traditions and culture,” she said. She added that it must be assumed that organizers of other Christmas markets and large events in Saxony-Anhalt would also refuse to assume responsibility for preventing terror and violent attacks.
On Monday morning, the trial of the suspected perpetrator of last year’s attack began. The defendant, Taleb A., admitted to being behind the wheel of the vehicle. The 51-year-old man from Saudi Arabia is accused of driving a rental car through the crowded Magdeburg Christmas Market on December 20 of last year, hitting numerous people. A nine-year-old boy and five women aged between 45 and 75 were killed, and more than 300 others were injured.
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