Düsseldorf Christmas Market: Police crack down on threats of attack

If a threat is made over the telephone, it is immediately verified by the relevant specialist departments – such as state security, constitutional protection, the state criminal police office or the federal criminal police office. “Then they do a risk analysis. Depending on the knowledge gained and the credibility of the threat classification, a decision is made on the measures to be taken. Is the threat of an attack specific or not?” said the representative of the police union Rettinghaus. According to him, it always plays a role from which political direction the threat comes from and against whom and which institution the threat is directed. For example, synagogues and Christmas markets would be treated with particular caution as potential targets.”After the attack on the Berlin Christmas market, the Christmas markets in Germany are obviously extremely sensitive,” explained Rettinghaus.