The motive for the Magdeburg terrorist attack remains unclear, and I will not address it in this text. Instead, I wonder how it was even possible for a vehicle to access the market area. After all, the security measures for Christmas markets had been recognized as extremely important in Germany ever since a similar attack in Berlin in 2016, when a man drove a truck into a market and killed 12 people.
For this reason, large concrete barriers had also been placed around the square in Magdeburg. However, a gap was left between the barriers for emergency vehicles, and it was through this gap that the terrorist managed to get through. This was done to ensure an evacuation route for a "conventional" emergency situation.
Of course, at this point, this sounds utterly foolish—as it undoubtedly is. Hopefully, it is now understood that the security measures for Christmas markets must prevent all types of vehicles from accessing the area, while providing a guarded and controlled access point for emergency vehicles, which is only opened when absolutely necessary.
This should also be implemented in countries other than Germany, including Finland and other nations where such terrorist attacks have never occurred.
No car attacks in Finland, yet. I would have closed the emergency exit with a car, can be driven away in case a need rises and will at least slow a BMW driver. Elementary, my dear Watson.
ReplyDelete