Some 2,600 Christmas markets opened Nov. 27, 2017, across Germany under tighter-than-usual security — nearly a year after an Islamist militant killed 12 people by driving a truck into crowds. VOA's Marissa Melton was in Germany as the markets opened Monday.
Germany's Christmas Markets Open a Year After Attack
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Local and international media were on the scene to mark the opening of Berlin's Christmas markets, asking shoppers if they remembered last year's attack and whether they felt safe at the market, Nov. 27, 2017.
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Berlin Mayor Michael Muller, right, assured Berliners that while "there cannot be absolute security" at the public market, the city has taken all measures possible to guard against any repeat of last year's attack. Muller was one of a number of officials who placed a white rose at a memorial to the victims of the attack.
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City officials say they will close the Breitscheidplatz market on the anniversary of the attack, December 19, for a memorial service. On that date, they also plan to unveil a permanent memorial: a bronze crack in the sidewalk with the victims' names inscribed nearby.