- Title: Christmas markets open in Germany amidst high security.
- Date: 27th November 2017
- Summary: BOCHUM, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 27, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE AROUND BOCHUM CHRISTMAS MARKET STALLS VARIOUS OF CONCRETE BOLLARD PADDED WITH SAND BAGS AND WRAPPED AS BONBONS (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSER-BY, CORNELIA SEIFERT, SAYING: "It makes it less scary for the children. They see them as presents and if there were just concrete blocks sitting there they would maybe ask themselves questions. That's what I think anyway. It looks more friendly and is still safe which is the important thing." DECORATED CONCRETE BLOCKS ON PEDESTRIAN ZONE MUNICH, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 21, 2017) (REUTERS) CHRISTMAS MARKET AT MUNICH'S MARIEN SQUARE DOMES OF THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR DEAR LADY (FRAUENKIRCHE) VARIOUS OF SECURITY BOLLARDS BEING INSTALLED VARIOUS OF CHRISTMAS STALLS AT MARKET HEAD OF SECURITY AND ORDER IN MUNICH COUNCIL, ANDREAS MICKISCH TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF SECURITY AND ORDER IN MUNICH COUNCIL, ANDREAS MICKISCH, SAYING: "Together with the police we decided to secure the approach to certain of the Christmas markets with concrete bollards, like the ones we use for the Oktoberfest, to be able, as far as possible, to prevent unfettered access by vehicles." BERLIN, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 27, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CAROUSEL ON BREITSCHEIDPLATZ CHRISTMAS MARKET WITH GEDAECHTNISKIRCHE IN BACKGROUND PEOPLE AT STAND (SOUNDBITE) (German) CHRISTMAS MARKET VISITOR, PETRA HENNE, SAYING: "Of course it is a bit oppressive, especially since I was here that day, on the other side but just a half an hour before. And when you hear of it afterwards of course your heart jumps to your mouth. And it is awful, this violence that you can't do anything about. But the Berliners are on good form and they carry on anyway right! what else can one do!" STAR ON TOP OF CHRISTMAS TREE BREITSCHEIDPLATZ WITH CHRISTMAS MARKET STALLS BREITSCHEIDPLATZ WITH CHRISTMAS MARKET STALLS IN DARK CLOSE OF GLITTERING LIGHTS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH CHRISTMAS MARKET IN THE RAIN STALLS IN FRONT OF GEDAECHTNISKIRCHE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE EATING IN RAIN AT STALLS VARIOUS OF TRADITIONAL LEBKUCHEN HEARTS STALL POLICE WALKING THROUGH MARKET FEET WALKING VARIOUS OF POLICE CAR AND CONCRETE BARRIERS LIGHTS OVER MARKET PEOPLE AT TABLE TALKING CLOSE OF HEART CANDLE BERLIN MAYOR MICHAEL MUELLER ADDRESSING PEOPLE IN MARKET (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN MAYOR MICHAEL MUELLER, SAYING: "And this is the other thing which I have consciously taken notice of, that the Berliners and the many guests of this city, despite the shock and dismay, maybe even because of this, have developed a brave defiance and have said: yes we will not forget. We know what happened and it moves us but we also agree just as strongly that we live together and that what makes this city is its openness and freedom and tolerance, and we will not let that be taken from us or broken." PEOPLE AT STAND TALKING VARIOUS OF MUELLER AND OTHERS LAYING WHITE ROSES AT MEMORIAL SITE MEMORIAL SITE GEDAECHTNISKIRCHE WITH CHRISTMAS MARKET IN FRONT
- Embargoed: 11th December 2017 20:15
- Keywords: Christmas market security Breitscheidplatz Germany police
- Location: BOCHUM, MUNICH AND BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BOCHUM, MUNICH AND BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
- Reuters ID: LVA0017992WXZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Christmas markets around Germany officially threw open their doors to the public on Monday (November 27) but revellers out to enjoy the traditional offerings of mulled wine and seasonal food will also notice an extra addition to the wood huts and festive stalls.
Following a truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market in December one year ago police and city councils have erected concrete bollards around markets near traffic and added extra security and patrol police.
Police will try to keep a low profile and keep the festive spirit intact with one German town decorating their security bollards as bonbons or presents.
Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller paid his respects at the Breitscheidplatz market and laid a white rose at a small memorial, calling on Belriniers to maintain the city's spirit of openness and tolerance.
24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri ploughed a truck through a festive Berlin market on December 19, 2016, killing 12 people. In a video found after his death he had pledged his allegiance to militant group Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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