Brits travelling abroad to visit some of Europe’s most beautiful Christmas markets have been urged to “stay aware” amid a safety warning from the Foreign Office. According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), there is a “high threat” to UK tourists in both Belgium and Germany.
This is due to the likelihood of terrorist attacks, the FCDO says. It explained: “There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets.
“Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.”
In a warning on its website, the Government body said: “Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Germany.
“Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Belgium.”
The FCDO said that attacks could be “indiscriminate”, including in public places visited by foreign nationals such as:
- Restaurants
- Markets
- Shopping centres
- Places of worship and religious sites, including synagogues
- Sporting and cultural events
- Crowded places and public gatherings
- Public transport
- National and international transport hubs
- Government buildings and international institutions
“You should be vigilant in public places and follow the advice of local authorities,” the FCDO added.
These warnings come following some “high profile” terrorist attacks in these areas.
In October 2023, two Swedish nationals were shot and killed in central Brussels. And in 2022 a police officer was killed and another injured in a suspected terrorist incident in Brussels.
In Germany this year three people were killed and several injured following a knife attack in Solingen. And in 2021, five people were stabbed and injured on a train in Neumarkt, Bavaria.
To minimise your risk of experiencing a terrorist attack, the FCDO says you should:
- Follow news and media reporting about the country and region
- Be aware of your surroundings, and be especially vigilant in public areas, including hotels, restaurants, bars and crowded places like markets, malls or sports events
- Be vigilant around significant religious occasions and public holidays
- Look out for anything suspicious, and if you see anything report it to the local police immediately.
- Try to avoid routines that could make you an easier target. Vary the time and route of your regular journeys
- Keep your mobile phone charged and with you, with emergency numbers programmed in
- Consider whether you might stand out from the crowd, particularly when travelling off the beaten track or to out-of-town destinations
- Be careful on social media. Avoid sharing information about yourself and your travel and social plans
- Tell family, friends, colleagues, or trusted hotel staff where you’re going and when you plan to return
- Identify places where you could seek refuge in an emergency
Some of the most popular Christmas markets in Europe include those in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Nuremberg, Cologne and Munich.