Merz proposes national standards to protect German Christmas markets

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called common security standards to be applied to Christmas markets across the country, in light of deadly attacks in recent years.

"We naturally support any form of coordination and harmonization of security concepts, because we have this problem - namely the protection of Christmas markets - in all federal states," he said during a visit to the city of Halle in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

The federal government supported efforts to achieve "common standards," he said.

It is not clear whether the traditional Christmas markets - a seasonal favourite for visitors to their wooden huts, mulled wine and sweet stalls and sausage grills - will take place at all in parts of Saxony-Anhalt due to safety fears.

Last year a man drove through the market in the state capital of Magdeburg, killing six people and injuring hundreds of others. The driver is currently on trial at Magdeburg District Court.

In December 2016, a central Berlin market was the target of a similar attack, killing 13 people.

"It really upsets me that we can no longer organize Christmas markets even in smaller towns without having to have a comprehensive security concept," Merz said on Tuesday.

He said that he hoped that an arrangement can be reached to enable the Magdeburg market to open as planned in the coming days.