City: Dresden Christmas markets "well protected"

At the start of Dresden's Christmas markets on Wednesday (November 26), the city considers its security measures to be significantly improved. Following the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market last year, Dresden has extended access protection to all municipal concession markets for the first time, said the head of the Office for Economic Development, Steffen Rietzschel. Previously, only the Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt and the Neumarkt were fully secured.

At the heart of the concept are around 300 heavy cast iron barriers, which, according to Rietzschel, can even withstand a 7.5-ton truck at high speed. They are supplemented by manually operated barriers that can be used by emergency services in an emergency. According to the city, it has invested a total of around 1.7 million euros in additional protective technology this year alone - up from around 1.3 million euros since the attack on Breitscheidplatz in Berlin.

Safety takes priority

There will be noticeable traffic restrictions around the markets as a result, it said. Underground car parks will remain accessible, but delivery traffic will be shifted more to off-peak times. This is not always convenient for residents and tradespeople, Rietzschel conceded, but in his view it is justifiable: the feeling of security gained outweighs the restrictions.

Privately organized markets will not be subject to municipal closures - these will be needed entirely for the municipal events. Police and municipal law enforcement services are present during the event. According to the city, whether there will be a ban on knives is the sole responsibility of the police.