Strasbourg will install security scanners at the entrances to its Christmas market for the first time in the event’s history, Mayor Catherine Trautmann has confirmed, as the city prepares to open the popular seasonal attraction on November 27.
The scanners are designed to detect weapons and metal objects carried by tourists and visitors, mirroring the systems used at airports. The measure marks a significant upgrade in security for one of Europe’s most visited Christmas markets.
Airport-Style Screening to ‘Fluidify’ Entrances
Speaking to ICI Alsace, the Socialist mayor said the equipment would help “fluidify the entrances and exits of the Grande Île,” the historic island at the heart of the city.
“It’s like the airport system,” Trautmann said. “You pass between sensors that check you are not carrying metallic materials or weapons on you.”
She added that the scanners “can detail what is in a suitcase, but above all what you may be carrying on yourself, in bags or pockets.”
City officials have not yet disclosed how many scanners will be installed or how much they will cost. Those questions are expected to be examined shortly by the market’s organizing commission.
Security Stepped Up After 2018 Attack
The Strasbourg Christmas market was struck by a terrorist attack on December 11, 2018, which left five people dead and 11 injured. The event has long operated under heightened security, but the introduction of walk-through scanners represents a new layer of protection.
The market, centered on Place Broglie and spanning several squares across the city’s historic center, attracted more than 3 million visitors last year, underscoring the scale of the logistical and security challenge facing municipal authorities.
The decision to deploy the scanners was first reported by the regional newspaper Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace.
