Safety Concepts for Events: Appeal to German Authorities

(eap) In light of the temporary withdrawal of approval for the Magdeburg Christmas Market by the city administration – following a letter from the State Administration Office citing deficiencies in the event’s safety concept – resistance is growing.

The German Tourism Association (DTV) and the German Showmen’s Association (DSB e.V.) are appealing to the responsible authorities not to abandon event organizers on the issue of safety. DTV Managing Director Norbert Kunz stated: “The safety requirements for festivals and large-scale events have become almost unaffordable for municipalities and organizers. The organization and coordination of safety concepts also pose major challenges for those involved locally. The federal and state governments must now quickly find a solution. Folk festivals, markets and large events stand for joie de vivre and are part of our open and diverse culture. At the same time, they represent an important economic factor for destinations as well as for the events and tourism industries.”

The German Showmen’s Association expressed concern and dismay over the cancellation of the Magdeburg Christmas Market, which was announced ten days before the planned opening. The market had already been almost completely set up. The association finds it incomprehensible why the State Administration Office is only now raising objections to the safety concept. “We are not willing to let administrative disputes be carried out on our backs! One thing is clear: if there are deficiencies, they must be remedied. We now expect professionalism, commitment, and speed from the authorities. And if we showmen can contribute to the solution on-site, we will – as always – do so,” said Albert Ritter, President of the German Showmen’s Association (DSB e.V.).

In its letter, which served as the final impetus for the withdrawal of the permit, the State Administration Office of Saxony-Anhalt criticized, among other things, that the Christmas Market Company placed responsibility for terrorist or amok attacks on the police and security authorities. Magdeburg’s Mayor Simone Borris opposed this criticism, pointing out that the Christmas Market Company’s safety concept assumed such acts of violence to be unpredictable: “All experts agree that concrete counter-terrorism measures are a state responsibility, for which the organizer of a Christmas market cannot be held accountable. Even the police informed us in writing last Friday that the prosecution of criminal offenses and the prevention of specific threats are state duties.”

The wording in the safety concept concerning terrorist and amok incidents had already been known to the State Administration Office since the safety plan for the Kaiser Otto Festival was submitted in September and had not been objected to at the time.

Following the terrorist attack on the Magdeburg Christmas Market on December 20, 2024, the trial against the perpetrator began this Monday. He had driven a car at high speed through an emergency access route into the crowd at the market, killing six people and injuring around 300 others. Safety measures for public events are being continuously reviewed and adjusted according to potential threat situations; however, nationwide standards have not yet been established. ■