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A Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg opened on Thursday, almost a year after the scene of a car crash that killed six people.
More than 140 shops set up stalls selling candles, woolen hats, candied almonds, mulled wine and other Christmas sweets, German news agency dpa reported. The market also has a Ferris wheel and an ice rink.
“Our expectations are hopeful, but of course we have the utmost respect for what happened last year and hope that people will rediscover their Christmas markets,” Magdeburg Christmas Market GmbH Managing Director Paul Gerhard Steger told RTL TV.
Following debate earlier this month about whether the market was safe enough and a prior refusal by state authorities to allow it to open, the city and organizers made further improvements to strengthen safety measures.
After last year’s attack, investigators said the attack was carried out in a rented BMW X3 and reached speeds of 48km/h during the rampage, leading to criticism that safety measures were inadequate.
dpa reports that at least 250,000 euros have been invested in new security systems, including concrete blocks to prevent cars from entering the market.
The one-minute attack on December 20 last year killed five women and one boy and injured many others.
Earlier this month, the suspect went on trial for murder.
Taleb al-Abdelmohsen, a 51-year-old Saudi doctor, was charged with six counts of murder and 338 counts of attempted murder during a trial at the Magdeburg cantonal court, which is scheduled to go on trial until March.
If convicted, he could face life in prison.
Christmas markets are a huge part of German culture, a cherished annual holiday tradition since the Middle Ages, and have been successfully exported to other parts of the world.
Additional sources of information • AP
