Turning grief into action – some lessons from Magdeburg Christmas market attack

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This incident is not isolated.

Christmas markets are cherished seasonal events, drawing large crowds to enjoy festive attractions, local goods, and cultural celebrations.

The recent tragedy at the Magdeburg Christmas market, where five people—including nine-year-old André Gleißner – lost their lives and over 200 were injured after a car plowed into the crowd, underscores the critical need for a unified safety culture and comprehensive planning to protect such events. Deep dive investigations are taking place as we speak, however this incident is not isolated; Christmas markets have been targets of attacks in the past. Notably:

• Liège, Belgium (2011): A gunman attacked the Place Saint-Lambert square during the Christmas market, killing six people and injuring 125 before taking his own life.
• Nantes, France (2014): A man drove a van into a Christmas market, injuring ten people. The attacker then attempted suicide but survived and was arrested.
• Dijon, France (2014): A driver shouting “Allahu Akbar” plowed into pedestrians in several locations, including near a Christmas market, injuring 13 people over two days.
• Berlin, Germany (2016): A truck was deliberately driven into the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz, resulting in 12 deaths and 56 injuries.
• Strasbourg, France (2018): An armed assailant attacked the city’s Christmas market, killing five and wounding 11 others.

This is a terrible, tragic incident. We must thoroughly investigate and ensure such events do not recur.
German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

Protecting more than the market

First and foremost, people safety is the absolute priority. The impact of safety at Christmas markets also extends far beyond the immediate location. A well-implemented safety culture and plan safeguard not just the market, but also the surrounding community and economy.

1. Visitor confidence – Visible security measures and effective communication foster a sense of safety, encouraging more visitors to attend and enjoy the market.
2. Economic stability – Vendors and local businesses depend on these events for seasonal revenue. Effective safety measures prevent disruptions that could deter customers.
3. Community resilience – A well-protected event strengthens public trust and showcases the ability of a community to come together in celebration while prioritising safety.
4. Reputation management – Locations and organisers known for prioritising safety are more likely to attract future visitors, vendors, and investors.

Building a unified safety culture & plan to protect the future of Christmas markets

These types of gatherings present unique safety challenges and these events highlight the vulnerabilities of public gatherings and the necessity for coordinated safety measures. Implementing a unified safety culture involves collaboration among event organisers, security personnel, policing, local authorities, and the community. Comprehensive risk assessments, robust physical security measures, and real-time communication platforms are essential components of a strategic plan to safeguard Christmas markets and ensure they remain safe spaces for public enjoyment.

Integration of teams, technologies, and processes

Christmas markets thrive on a sense of warmth, togetherness, and trust. To preserve this, all stakeholders must work collectively to build a cohesive safety culture to safeguard visitors, vendors, and the wider community. This involves:

1. Shared responsibility across teams

• Team work – Event organisers, security personnel, first responders, local authorities, and vendors must operate as a synchronised unit.
• Roles – Clear roles, seamless communication, and collaborative training ensure that all parties are aligned on safety objectives.
  

2. Proactive risk management

• Culture – A unified culture emphasises proactive planning, including comprehensive risk assessments that account for crowd dynamics, location vulnerabilities, and evolving threats.
• Mitigation – Every stakeholder, from vendors to law enforcement, must understand potential risks and their mitigation strategies.
• Analysis – Localised threat analysis – evaluate the market’s proximity to major roads, high-risk areas, or critical infrastructure.
• SOPs/EOPs – Setup and test predefined standard and emergency protocols to ensure a swift and efficient response to medical emergencies, security breaches, or natural hazards.
• Data – Assess likely foot traffic patterns to prevent bottlenecks and overcrowding.
• Seasonal factors – Account for seasonal factors and weather conditions like snow or ice that can complicate evacuations or access for emergency services.
• Physical security – Implement physical security enhancements including
  • Perimeter protection – deploy barriers, bollards, and fencing to secure entry points and protect against vehicle-based threats.
  • Personnel – trained security personnel and dogs should be utilised throughout the event for your eyes and ears on the ground.
  • Surveillance: Use high-resolution cameras, drones to oversee large areas and identify suspicious activity and body-worn cameras on all staff.
• Monitoring & communication – implementation of systems to ensure rapid response to emerging threats and incidents.

2. Public engagement

• Educating visitors about safety measures creates a cooperative atmosphere where attendees feel informed and reassured.
• Clear instructions, such as evacuation routes or emergency contacts, foster trust and compliance during incidents.

Unified security & safety platform:

A strategic safety plan for Christmas markets integrates technology, physical security measures, and coordinated training and response protocols to address a range of risks. Zinc’s Critical Event Management (CEM) platform can act as the backbone of the safety plan, enabling:

Pre-event modules:

1. Risk assessment – Identifies potential vulnerabilities and threats based on historical data and environmental factors and the logging of logistics, staffing, permits, and security measures in a centralised system.
2. Inspections & checks – Ensures all legal and regulatory requirements are met and conducts drills and scenario-based training for staff and first responders.
3. Resource library – Policies, documents, assignment instructions, Maps to visualises the event layout, emergency routes, and high-risk zones.
4. System integrations – Integrate data feeds from CCTV cameras, body cameras, drones and weather forecasts to monitor and mitigate weather-related risks.
5. Mass notification configuration – Prepares alert templates for various emergency scenarios and setup pre-event communication and coordination among all stakeholders.

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During the event modules:

1. Incident management dashboard – Centralises reporting and tracking of ongoing incidents.
2. Real-Time threat detection – Monitors live feeds from CCTV cameras, body cameras, alarms, sensors, crowd density, and social media for emerging risks.
3. Mass notification platform – Disseminates alerts to attendees and staff during incidents.
4. Mobile communication apps – Enables secure, instant two-way communication between event staff and responders, providing real-time updates on evacuation routes and safe zones.
5. Patrol management – Optimises deployment of personnel and resources for proactive monitoring and tracking of personnel in response to incidents.

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Post-event modules:

1. Incident review and analysis – Logs and analyses data from incidents, handle financial claims (i.e. insurance) for damages, injuries, or losses during the event, root cause analysis and lessons learn’t.
2. Evidence – Securely store recorded footage, statements and evidence for a defined period of time.
3. Post-event surveys – Collect feedback from attendees, staff, and vendors about safety and event management.
4. Compliance & improvement reporting – Ensures all legal and regulatory reporting requirements are met. A comprehensive report of what worked well and what needs improvement – evaluating security issues, and operational efficiencies to address identified weaknesses.
5. Stakeholder communication logs – Facilitates and store post-event discussions among teams, vendors, and local authorities. Storing event data, reports, and insights for future reference and planning.

Conclusion

Protecting Christmas markets is not just about deploying technology or increasing security presence – it’s about fostering a unified safety culture and plan. By integrating advanced tools like a Critical Event Management platform, conducting thorough risk assessments, and ensuring coordinated efforts among all stakeholders, Christmas markets can remain spaces of joy and celebration. This unified approach ensures that the magic of the season thrives while safeguarding everyone who comes to share in its festive spirit.

• Critical events/incidents
• Dashboards & analysis
• Infrastructure