Christmas Market Security: Police on alert in Germany for the festive season

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Europe

02:59

It's been two years since the Christmas market truck attack in Berlin. Security has been stepped up at this festive season. After another attack in Strasbourg last week, Europe is on alert. CGTN's Guy Henderson reports.

Silence for the victims of the Berlin Christmas market attack. Remembered one by one.

Astrid Passin's father was one of those killed. It wasn't easy for her to return: she didn't feel safe.

ASTRID PASSIN RELATIVE OF TERROR ATTACK VICTIM "At the beginning, I was sensitive to coming to these places: wide open, crowded. I felt insecure because there were so many people. So I tried to avoid going to places like this."

Inside, an effort's been made to keep a sense of Christmas spirit for visitors. But everyone has to pass through a fortified entrance.

GUY HENDERSON BERLIN "It's two years since a truck ploughed through here, killing 12 people and injuring 56 others. Now, the Christmas market here is surrounded by a ring of reinforced steel. It's designed to protect people of course. But it also brings with it a pretty different feel."

One this group of artists in Dresden is determined to avoid. They want city authorities to think about security differently: turn it into art, and make it less of an eye-sore.

REINHARD PONTIUS DRESDEN ARTIST "The idea is to bring together security and art: we should integrate security in an aesthetic way in the object."

Their ideas are not reality here yet. The official thinking appears similar to Berlin's: cosy within, the outskirts: re-enforced.

"They're pretty good at stopping trucks."

AXEL FREIBER SAXONY POLICE "We just have one team for intervention – if something happens, they are in the background. But not more. We don't want to make the people threatened. There is a danger but not a concrete one."

Back in Berlin, the man representing the victims is sceptical of the need for more security.

ROLAND WEBER VICTIMS' REPRESENTATIVE "I felt secure at this kind of market before the attack and I feel secure afterwards. The bollards give people a secure feeling. But in my opinion, they don't really help because I'm sure an assassin will find other ways to hurt people as we saw in Strasbourg a few days ago."

So this is the balance authorities face here now: between keeping that sense of celebration – while making people feel at ease.

Guy Henderson, CGTN, Berlin.