Proposal solicited for a worker safety directive addressing risks from ionizing radiation exposure by the Commission.

Magdeburg Christmas Market Investigation: State Capital Takes Financial Responsibility for Security Measures

The state capital of Magdeburg is under scrutiny as it has taken financial responsibility for the concrete blocks used for structural security at its Christmas market. The investigation was sparked by questions surrounding the organization and financing of the market's security measures.

According to Kerstin Godenrath, chairwoman of the CDU faction in the state parliament of Magdeburg, Mayor Simone Borris' statements regarding the city's responsibility for the Christmas market have been found to be contradictory in several respects.

In October 2024, Mayor Borris began discussions regarding security measures for the Magdeburg Christmas market. However, there is no explicit information that she personally assumed responsibility for financing or setting up the concrete blocks for security at that time. The details on when or if she specifically took over this responsibility are not clearly stated in the available sources.

The concrete blocks for structural security and their assembly and disassembly at the Magdeburg Christmas market were explicitly required by the market permit. The Gesellschaft zur Durchführung der Magdeburger Weihnachtsmärkte GmbH, one of the organizers of the market, financed the assembly and disassembly of these blocks. Contrary to her previous statement, the state capital financed the concrete blocks for structural security and their assembly and disassembly for the Christmas market.

Mayor Borris was summoned as a witness by the investigative committee. In response, she pointed to responsibilities within the Magdeburg administration regarding the Christmas market, but also showed personal involvement in other Christmas or winter markets. Godenrath reiterated that Mayor Borris had previously stated that the state capital is not responsible for warding off abstract dangers, but the state capital has since taken financial responsibility for the concrete blocks used for structural security at the Christmas market.

Godenrath concluded that the assembly and disassembly of the concrete blocks at the Magdeburg Christmas market were also financed by the state capital. She noted that the Christmas market in Magdeburg is still under investigation, and the CDU faction in the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt provided the source for the information.

[Photo credit: Rayk Weber]

Kerstin Godenrath, Chairwoman of the CDU faction in the state parliament of Magdeburg (photo provided).

Proposal solicited for a worker safety directive addressing risks from ionizing radiation exposure by the Commission.