Wandering around a Christmas Market is usually a joyous, festive activity, but with Belgium still at terrorist threat level 3, they will be under tight security this year.
Six weeks on from the 16 October Brussels terror attack in which two Swedish citizens were killed, Belgium is maintaining a terrorist threat level 3 (on a scale of 4). Level 3 is categorised as 'serious', meaning that the threat is "possible and probable."
During a press conference on Wednesday, ministers noted that the ongoing investigation poses a risk: several arrests were made in connection to the incident, but it is possible other accomplices are still on the loose. They also noted that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite the temporary ceasefire, continues to divide populations and radicalise some people.
With the threat level being set at 3, Home Affairs Minister Annelies Verlinden noted that local analyses, which can be requested by municipalities, were needed to ensure these Christmas celebrations could take place in the safest conditions. Two of the country's largest markets – Winter Wonders in Brussels (Plaisirs d'Hiver) and the Christmas Village in Liège – opened this weekend.
She noted that not all Christmas markets would automatically fall under threat level 3, but that the Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis would determine the exact level for each activity. However, Christmas markets are inherently risky places, given the large numbers of people they bring together. Last year, the 22nd edition of the Brussels markets attracted almost 3.5 million visitors, while the Liège version usually welcomes around 2 million attendees.
In recent years, such places have been the target of terrorist attacks: in December 2018, five people were killed and 11 injured during a terrorist attack on Strasbourg's Christmas market, and two years prior, a truck was deliberately driven into the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, leaving 12 people dead and 56 others injured.
What measures can be expected?
Police will be on site in Brussels in uniform and in civilian clothes, they told Sudinfo. There will also be a large number of 'peacekeepers' on site, as well as employees of the organising non-profit BME, clearly identifiable by their Plaisirs d'Hiver jackets, as has been the case in the past. They are also in direct contact with police.
There will, however, not be restrictions on bags, nor will there be a police station on site, given the proximity of the central police station (Rue Marché au Charbon) and the police station on Rue du Houblon.
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In Liège, local sources said the use of drones is being considered to ensure the safety of people visiting the market. Overall, the security arrangements put in place for the Christmas Village "comply with the recommendations of the crisis centre," the Liège police press service noted.
More measures are being rolled out in the Walloon city than in Brussels, including anti-ramming devices and the Liège canine brigade specialising in the detection of explosives. Rucksacks will not be banned in Liège, but they may be checked.
