Germany

Fools celebrate under police protection

Under massive security measures in Germany, the street carnival started. Despite the new year’s eve Assault and an abstract terror threat did many celebrating not spoil.

The zany Goings took as usual its course: In Düsseldorf stormed the Möhnen the town hall and cut ties. In Cologne it was one of the triumvirate of the last few seconds until 11.11 PM and opened officially to the street carnival. In Mainz, Germany, gathered the fools around the carnival fountain. In Baden-Württemberg started the fools in the hot Phase of the Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht.

However, were the prelude to the women’s carnival in many places, much less fools on the roads. The main reason was the view of the Festkommitees of the Cologne carnival, especially the pouring rain – and not the fear of Islamist attacks, or sexual Assault, such as in the new year’s eve in Cologne. Especially in the Cathedral city, but also in other cities, the authorities had strong security measures in place. Police, order offices, and private security services were increasingly in use and showed presence.

Largely peaceful carnival-prelude

So were in Cologne, up to 2500 police on duty, nearly three times as many as last year – including officials from Berlin and lower Saxony. To this were added all the available forces of the planning and transport service, in addition, there were about 240 employees of a private security service on the roads. The police has also extensive video surveillance.

In Cologne opened in my gallery is traditionally the triumvirate of the street carnival

After the sexual Assault of women in the new year’s eve, the city had the great days to be a practical test explained. The Cologne police drew a positive interim balance. In comparison to the previous years have significantly less Display given. Six sexual Assaults were reported, there was also some Show because of Taschendiebstahls, personal injury, defamation and property damage. There were 21 temporary arrests for various offenses. “From our point of view, everything is very peaceful,” wrote city Director Guido Kahlen. Women’s carnival in Cologne, it has always been the Karnevalstag with the most crime.

Cologne station forecourt particularly secure

Also in the evening, as many Celebrating again departed, it remained in Cologne, according to police largely peaceful. The square in front of the train station, where it in the new year’s eve, most Assaults on women had given, it was with headlights brightly lit. Unlike the turn of the year was no crowd. The police had around the station, particularly many public officials.

Also in Mainz, Germany, was the women’s carnival, according to the police peacefully. On the Schillerplatz had 2,000 visitors celebrate and there have been no incidents given. Leverkusen had the police on the other hand in a fight with about 40 Participants intervention, three men were taken into custody. The fools in Düsseldorf have also been with more officials than is usually secured. Also here was compared to previous years, initially rather quiet. Only with increasing alcohol consumption is the number of Aggressionsdelikte increased, said a police spokesman. Major incident but it did not.

Until ash Wednesday, take in the Rhineland carnival strongholds of the fools and Jecken the command

In Düsseldorf and Cologne, Germany dark places, but also the railway stations and cities up to the end of the carnival bustle on ash Wednesday is particularly illuminated. In addition, in both cities at various Places so called Security Points, where women quickly report, the victims of violence. The Federal police is more in the trains and at the major railway stations present. The public transport company in a number of towns also have their security enhanced.

The majority of the German celebrates, as always

A good half of the Germans, according to a survey by the Bielefeld-based Emnid Institute no Terrorangst and celebrating the carnival, as always. Every Fourth, although fear, but still wants the carnival to go and be “more cautious behavior”. That Assault, like in the new year’s eve in Cologne, the carnival happen again, fear according to the survey, 27 percent of Germans, 46 percent believe, however, the violence will not repeat itself, because the police learned have and are now better prepared.

Highlights of the street carnival are the traditional Rosenmontagszüge, where colorful Mottowagen introduced in a humorous way also to political issues.

ww/haz (epd, dpa)