Anxious Europeans see terror loom over Christmas period

By Anadolu Agency correspondents

ISTANBUL (AA) – European countries -- many already anxious and on high alert for possible terrorist violence during the Christmas period -- are boosting security following Monday’s attack on a market in Berlin.

Many ordinary Europeans, who had been looking forward to the Christmas holiday period, are now eyeing the festive celebrations with apprehension.

France, which has already suffered a number of gruesome and indiscriminate attacks this year, confirmed its forces were maintaining their “maximum level of vigilance” following the Berlin incident in which at least 12 people died.

Christian places of worship will be secured and monitored during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Dec. 24 and 25) according to the French Interior Ministry.

"All security forces will keep to a maximum level of vigilance. Security at Christmas markets will be reinforced with immediate effect," the ministry said in a statement.

French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday that "security at Christmas markets was immediately reinforced".

Le Roux called on the French "to have fun", but also to exercise caution during the holidays.

One French shopper, 22-year-old Fouad Gidwi, did not seem convinced. Speaking to Anadolu Agency in Paris on Tuesday, he said: “Let’s say the minimum is done at least: they check bags at the entrances of markets, there are metal detectors. However, in the end, it is really hard to control everything.

“I mean look what happened yesterday in Berlin, or last summer in Nice [where a truck driver killed almost 90 people in a terror attack].”

“People just get in trucks and run over people. Who could’ve seen that coming?” he added.

Anne-Cecile Borde, 36, a teacher and a mother of two, was shopping at the Christmas market on Paris’s famous Champs Elysee.

“To be honest, with all the craziness that we lived here during the last two years, every time I think twice before taking my kids somewhere.

“Unfortunately we have to continue with our lives but the fear of another terror attack always hides somewhere inside,” she said.

- Heightened security

Across the English Channel, London’s Metropolitan Police would only say they were reviewing their security after recent incidents in Berlin and Ankara.

However, they said they recognized the threat level was at “'severe’, meaning an attack is highly likely."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a statement: “I want to reassure Londoners and those visiting our city over Christmas that the Metropolitan Police will review all security plans in London in light of last night's events, and that keeping everyone safe remains the highest priority for the Met commissioner and for me.”

In Sweden, the country’s Security Service told Anadolu Agency it would maintain its current level of readiness, but confirmed this was “three out of five”.

"Sweden has seen a raised level of possible security threats since October 2010 and it's a serious situation we're in,” press secretary at the Swedish Security Services Nina Odermalm Schei said.

In Switzerland, where police were reacting to a triple shooting at an Islamic center in Zurich on Monday night, Geneva officers said they had been “sensitized and very attentive to the national and international events that affect the world in recent years."

The security forces told Anadolu Agency they had examined measures “to limit the intrusion of vehicles into the areas” occupied by crowds.

For the end-of-year celebrations, the police presence was reinforced in order to reassure the population. For "tactical and security reasons", the police gave no further details on the measures taken.

In Germany, still reeling from Monday’s incident, the authorities in Berlin demanded the closure of Christmas markets on Tuesday to demonstrate respect for the victims of the suspected attack.

Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere underlined that Christmas markets in Berlin and across Germany would remain open in the coming days.

De Maiziere said a meeting of interior ministers of federal states agreed to keep the markets open and evaluate possible additional security on a case-by-case basis.

Around 2,500 Christmas markets across Germany are popular attractions and are visited by millions of people during the last months of the year.

However, in Spain, Madrid's Christmas market in Plaza Mayor bustled with the same relaxed atmosphere as usual.

Rafa Martinez, from Leon, told Anadolu Agency he had been selling Christmas trinkets here for 30 years.

"It [Berlin] was a barbarity but I'm not worried; Madrid has the best police force in the world," Martinez said.

Tourists sauntered, delighted children chased oversized bubbles, and locals soaked in the Christmas spirit at the emblematic plaza, as dozens of police officers looked on.

Little fear was in the air despite the fact Europe's deadliest terrorist attack happened in 2004 in Madrid when al-Qaeda blew up a commuter train, killing 191 people.

Spain's Interior Ministry told Anadolu Agency that for now, they would not raise their alert level.

The country has been on high alert -- level four out of five -- since June of 2015. However, municipal police told Anadolu Agency there was increased security on Tuesday -- about 100 extra special officers were in Madrid's downtown.

- 'We can't stay home because of fear'

Irene Garcia, 23, from Madrid, who went to the market to shop, also felt safe and says she did not think twice before going to crowded places.

"I felt terrible when I saw what happened in Berlin, but these things happen and the chances of getting killed in a terrorist attack are so small. We can't stay home because of fear," she said.

In Greece, attitudes were even more relaxed. There was a discreet police presence at "the mall" shopping center in the northern suburbs of Marousi in the capital, Athens.

Police said they were on routine patrol as usual during festive periods.

Most shoppers did not seem overly worried about yesterday's attack in Berlin.

Tania Economidou, 49, a mother of two, said: "I don't think we are their target,” adding that "people should not be afraid. I believe that Greece is a safe place."

Another shopper, 44-year-old Giota Kalidi, was similarly nonchalant: "No I'm not scared; I'm more scared while driving outside than in malls. I think we should stay calm."

However, 65-year-old Katerina Goutsou revealed how some Europeans were nervous given the huge wave of refugees and migrants which have arrived on the continent in recent years.

"Yes I am worried when I see too many foreigners together in a public place, I'm afraid,” she told Anadolu Agency.

Goutsou, shopping at the mall with her granddaughter, explained she was afraid to walk around in crowded places.

"I am even worried to take the train, it's full of strangers,” she said, referring to migrants, many of whom are grouped in major train stations in Athens.

In Belgrade’s Christmas market two travelers from Tunisia reflected on the violence in their home country and in Europe.

Ayse Medup, 26, said she was “very well aware that the risk of terrorism is everywhere in the world.

“As Tunisians we suffered from this. Tourists stopped coming to Tunisia and I understand that all these countries need tourists.

“We should just move on. Terrorism is not some particular country's problem, it is a worldwide problem.”

Fellow Tunisian Dora Agirbi, 25, was in Isanbul’s Besiktas district last week when a terrorist attack killed over 40 people.

"That was the fourth time I visited Turkey. Many countries like Turkey, Tunisia and Serbia rely on tourism for their economic growth. I come from a country where hotels closed [but] I do not think that is a good idea to stop traveling."

* Anadolu Agency correspondents Magda Panoutsopoulou, Elin Joensson, Ahmet Gurhan Kartal, Hajer M'tiri, Fatih Erel, Ayhan Simsek, Alyssa McMurtry and Talha Ozturk contributed to this report.