Long queues at checkpoints, tram stops in the city center not served and a growing fed up with the inhabitants … All that was the Strasbourg Christmas market in recent editions, including those post-attack of December 11, 2018.
After the cancellation of 2020, the meeting with two million annual visitors will see its security system evolve. “We looked for efficiency,” summed up the prefect of Bas-Rhin on Wednesday. Before detailing the new measures of this event “under very high surveillance with considerable resources”. The main novelty concerns the end of systematic checkpoints at the entrance to the Big Island.
“We wanted to avoid traffic jams which are totally contrary to health security,” explained Josiane Chevalier. The news should also delight a majority of residents, who had to go through these searches morning and evening. Finally, if they showed up at the famous checkpoints between 11 am and 8 pm …
Instead, they can be controlled anytime and anywhere. This “fine grid of the hypercentre” is at the heart of the new strategy of the prefecture and the town hall. Knowing that the entrances to the Big Island will always be filtered for all vehicles, with four entry points and two exit points, and parking is still prohibited. In terms of public transport, the tram will stop again at all stops, with the exception of the one at Place Broglie.
“More than 700 people, all security forces combined”
In total, “more than 700 people from all security forces will be mobilized” during the “Christkindelsmärik”, according to the prefect. These forces will be divided between police, military, deminers, mobile forces, dog handlers, etc. “The goal is to create insecurity in the minds of people who have malicious ideas,” departmental director of security for Bas-Rhin Laurent Tarasco.
On the ground, this should therefore materialize through a strong presence in the city center, but also in the immediate vicinity. This is where systematic searches of “all large objects” will take place. A task entrusted to private security agents. “We will be there as a reinforcement if necessary”, continues Laurent Tarasco, repeating the desire “not to create a meeting point”.
No health pass but compulsory mask
Because health security will also be at the heart of concerns. The organizers have said it over and over again, no health pass will be required to access the festivities. Even if the Covid-19 epidemic were to experience a new peak. “We have planned three scenarios depending on the incidence rate,” explained Mayor Jeanne Barseghian. “If it happened to pass the 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the main difference would be the establishment of food courts, places where people would have to present a pass to eat, such as in restaurants. “
Given the current situation (around 70 cases / 100,000 inhabitants), only “food corners” are scheduled. Clearly, visitors will be invited to move away from the crowd to consume. “It is not at all in our heads to cancel the Christmas market. The vaccination rate is high in the department, only the hospital tension will be the justice of the peace, ”Josiane Chevalier insisted, calling for“ collective responsibility ”. Wearing a mask will therefore be compulsory.