Germany: Reunification celebrations in Mainz Oct. 3

Event

On Tuesday, October 3, festivals will be held across the country for German Unity Day, a national public holiday which commemorates the anniversary of reunification in 1990. This year, Mainz will be the host of the main celebrations with some 500,000 people expected to attend the city’s festival. Various concerts took place on Monday, October 2, and further activities and events are scheduled from 11:00 to 23:00 (local time) on Tuesday, including a highly anticipated speech by Chancellor Angela Merkel at Mainz’s Rheingoldhalle convention center.

Due to heightened security concerns, 4300 police officers will be deployed throughout the city on Tuesday and anti-truck concrete blocks have been erected. Furthermore, large parts of the inner city have been closed to traffic.

Context

European countries are on high alert amid the prevailing indiscriminate risk of terrorism following a series of attacks in European main cities, including Madrid, London, Barcelona, Paris, and Brussels.

Advice

Individuals in Mainz, and in cities throughout Germany more generally, are advised to remain vigilant, adhere to any instructions issued by local authorities, and allow for extra time to reach their destinations.