In response to the recent vehicular attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, which resulted in the deaths of six people and injuries to approximately 300 others, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has declared heightened security measures for public festivals.

At a meeting in Hamburg with delegates from the German Exhibitors' Association on Saturday, Scholz stated, 'We will do everything we can to continue enhancing security in our streets, squares, and public festivals.' The Chancellor assured that the federal government would provide financial support to the injured and the families of the deceased from the Magdeburg attack, offering aid equivalent to what is provided to victims of terrorist attacks.

The tragic incident occurred shortly before Christmas when a man drove a vehicle into the market, killing four women and a nine-year-old child, with a 52-year-old woman succumbing to her injuries after the New Year.

Scholz emphasized that the incident affected exhibitors directly, both as victims and rescuers.

He expressed solidarity, highlighting the exhibitors' resilience and dedication to fostering joy and an open lifestyle.

Robert Kircheschker, head of the Hamburg Exhibitors' Association, cautioned against burdening exhibitors with anti-terrorism costs at public festivals, noting the extensive network of approximately 10,000 popular festivals and nearly 3,000 Christmas markets across Germany, attracting about 300 million visitors annually.

Albert Ritter, President of the German Exhibitors' Association, insisted that securing Christmas markets is a sovereign task and argued that the state should bear these expenses.

Ritter warned against applying a recent Federal Constitutional Court decision on high-risk football match security costs to public festivals.

Chancellor Scholz rejected this idea, asserting that the issue is unrelated and inapplicable to the context of festivals.