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| Christmas Markets Are Beloved Tradition, but a Challenge to Protect | Christmas Markets Are Beloved Tradition, but a Challenge to Protect |
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| PARIS — In France this year, the annual Strasbourg Christmas market opened under heavy security. Instead of the usual gleam of holiday decorations in the central square, dominated by a 100-foot pine tree, the authorities left it mostly bare — in case they needed to set up a field hospital. | PARIS — In France this year, the annual Strasbourg Christmas market opened under heavy security. Instead of the usual gleam of holiday decorations in the central square, dominated by a 100-foot pine tree, the authorities left it mostly bare — in case they needed to set up a field hospital. |
| Before anyone can reach the market, they must pass through one of the 15 checkpoints fortifying the center of the city. Vehicles are not allowed on the streets near the market, and the closest tram stops have been temporarily shut down. | Before anyone can reach the market, they must pass through one of the 15 checkpoints fortifying the center of the city. Vehicles are not allowed on the streets near the market, and the closest tram stops have been temporarily shut down. |
| At a time when terrorist attacks have become all too familiar, public spaces are no longer presumed to be safe, and that includes the ubiquitous Christmas markets that flourish across much of the Continent this time of year. | At a time when terrorist attacks have become all too familiar, public spaces are no longer presumed to be safe, and that includes the ubiquitous Christmas markets that flourish across much of the Continent this time of year. |
| So when a truck careered into one of those markets in Berlin, 470 miles from Strasbourg, on Monday night, it was not clear whether terrorism was the motivation, but it was many people’s first thought. | So when a truck careered into one of those markets in Berlin, 470 miles from Strasbourg, on Monday night, it was not clear whether terrorism was the motivation, but it was many people’s first thought. |
| If they turn out to be right, it would hardly be unexpected. At least twice this year, Islamic extremists in Europe have used a vehicle to kill people. There have been at least nine attacks or attempted attacks in Germany in 2016 as well as in at least five other European countries: France, Italy, Belgium, Russia and Serbia. | If they turn out to be right, it would hardly be unexpected. At least twice this year, Islamic extremists in Europe have used a vehicle to kill people. There have been at least nine attacks or attempted attacks in Germany in 2016 as well as in at least five other European countries: France, Italy, Belgium, Russia and Serbia. |
| And these attacks have taken every possible form, from bombings to beheadings. Those who carry them out are young and old. Heightening the pervasive sense of dread, terrorism in Europe seems to have no one face, no one method, no one target and knows no national borders. | And these attacks have taken every possible form, from bombings to beheadings. Those who carry them out are young and old. Heightening the pervasive sense of dread, terrorism in Europe seems to have no one face, no one method, no one target and knows no national borders. |
| Most of all in France, which has suffered the most attacks of any European country, they have become part of life. The deadliest attack in Europe this year was carried out by a lone driver in Nice on July 14. He used a cargo truck to career into crowds leaving the annual fireworks festivities, and killed 90 people. There have been at least nine other attacks or attempted attacks in the country. | Most of all in France, which has suffered the most attacks of any European country, they have become part of life. The deadliest attack in Europe this year was carried out by a lone driver in Nice on July 14. He used a cargo truck to career into crowds leaving the annual fireworks festivities, and killed 90 people. There have been at least nine other attacks or attempted attacks in the country. |
| In a much-criticized comment made after the Nice killings, Prime Minister Manuel Valls of France said: “Times have changed, and we should learn to live with terrorism. We have to show solidarity and collective calm.” | In a much-criticized comment made after the Nice killings, Prime Minister Manuel Valls of France said: “Times have changed, and we should learn to live with terrorism. We have to show solidarity and collective calm.” |
| A state of emergency has been in effect in France since the November 2015 attacks in and near Paris, which killed 130 people. But the mood began to change about 10 months before that, when two gunmen entered the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in January 2015 and killed 12 people. | |
| Bags are searched when customers enter supermarkets, before theatergoers can go into performance halls, at the entrances to sporting events and department stores. | Bags are searched when customers enter supermarkets, before theatergoers can go into performance halls, at the entrances to sporting events and department stores. |
| Christmastime has loomed as a daunting challenge for law enforcement. It is the most celebrated single holiday across a continent where a majority of people are Catholic or Protestant. The markets are a beloved feature of cities, towns and even villages, which dress up their historic centers to celebrate the season. | Christmastime has loomed as a daunting challenge for law enforcement. It is the most celebrated single holiday across a continent where a majority of people are Catholic or Protestant. The markets are a beloved feature of cities, towns and even villages, which dress up their historic centers to celebrate the season. |
| They are also a tourist draw with many people coming to glimpse a bit of the Old World that can appear quaint but at the same time is still very vibrant. | They are also a tourist draw with many people coming to glimpse a bit of the Old World that can appear quaint but at the same time is still very vibrant. |
| The Christmas market tradition is especially beloved in the German-speaking world, where it originated in the Middle Ages. | The Christmas market tradition is especially beloved in the German-speaking world, where it originated in the Middle Ages. |
| Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as places like Strasbourg, a French city that used to be German, have elaborate celebrations. These open-air markets, which often dominate ancient, picturesque streets, coincide with the period of Advent, the four Sundays before Christmas, and have become a monthlong excuse for socializing, shopping and drinking hot spiced wine punch, and informal outdoor concerts. | Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as places like Strasbourg, a French city that used to be German, have elaborate celebrations. These open-air markets, which often dominate ancient, picturesque streets, coincide with the period of Advent, the four Sundays before Christmas, and have become a monthlong excuse for socializing, shopping and drinking hot spiced wine punch, and informal outdoor concerts. |
| Families frequent the Christmas markets. So do people working downtown who dart out at lunch to get a little present at one place and a stocking-stuffer at another, and drink a cup of something. | Families frequent the Christmas markets. So do people working downtown who dart out at lunch to get a little present at one place and a stocking-stuffer at another, and drink a cup of something. |
| But markets are dauntingly hard to protect — a determined killer can almost always find a way to enter and wreak mayhem. | But markets are dauntingly hard to protect — a determined killer can almost always find a way to enter and wreak mayhem. |
| Hence, the heavy security in Strasbourg. Similar precautions are being taken in Metz, another town in Alsace-Lorraine that hosts a famous Christmas market. | Hence, the heavy security in Strasbourg. Similar precautions are being taken in Metz, another town in Alsace-Lorraine that hosts a famous Christmas market. |
| Worried after the deaths in Berlin on Monday that perhaps these precautions were not enough, Bruno Le Roux, the French interior minister, urged all law enforcement officials to redouble the efforts to be vigilant and announced that he was reinforcing the security at Christmas markets throughout France. | Worried after the deaths in Berlin on Monday that perhaps these precautions were not enough, Bruno Le Roux, the French interior minister, urged all law enforcement officials to redouble the efforts to be vigilant and announced that he was reinforcing the security at Christmas markets throughout France. |