time on arrival begins the rain, and the first back on the road to Wacken starts in Hamburg. At the exit Halstenbek-Krupunder a heavy metal disciple has chauffeured his SUV at a construction site next to the road. There are still about 50 kilometers to the 27th Wacken Open Air (WOA), that music festival that attracts 75,000 hardrockers for four days in the 1800-strong community. This year it is under special sign. For Wacken is the first major event since the assassination of Ansbach.
Three kilometers from the village, which has become world famous by the black-clad music fans, there is a general traffic control police. Officials look into any vehicle, check the papers. With eye-catching people an alcohol or drug test is performed. Actually, the police do that every year. Yet something is different. “We already show more presence and have differently than usual helmets and vests while,” says a police officer: “That was not otherwise be the case.”
the attacks in Ansbach, Munich and Würzburg have changed something in the safety awareness of the Germans, but hysteria brings anyone. In Wacken they give themselves left it out. For 27 years, the residents know the hard rock fans, which by their friendliness welcome. “Actually, everything is as usual,” said Hans-Jörn Arp, Parliamentary Secretary of the CDU in the Kiel Landtag, the “world”: “There are more police officers this year because, as actually foreseen by the original plan In addition, you. Do not take backpacks with in the infield. “
also in Ansbach young people were peacefully gathered to listen to music and to celebrate. No one expected an attack, but a 27-year-old Syrian had death in his rucksack. He wanted on 24 July 2016 so many visitors take their own lives as possible. At the end of the assassins died by his own bomb, twelve people were injured at the entrance of the fairground in the Middle-Franconian town – just two days after the massacre of Munich, as an obvious lunatic nine people shot
No wonder that the safeguards in Wacken are 2016 other. There are striking to see more police cars than in previous years. The village road is for traffic even completely blocked, which she has never been. And that has implications for the days Visitors: 2015 there were on Saturday over 30,000 who arrived by bus from Hamburg, Kiel and Lübeck, to watch the spectacle at close quarters. The need now park in the industrial park and explore the center of the heavy metal world on foot. I like the hawkers who have built Bierbuden and bratwurst stands and benefit from new barriers.
Meanwhile, is behind the scenes of the police and security forces repeatedly discussed the situation in order to ensure a smooth process. Also because of high attendance announced: On Thursday paid Edward Zammit Lewis, the Minister of Tourism of Malta, the festival a visit. On Friday comes as every year the former Prime Minister Peter Harry Carstensen, and on Saturday makes Schleswig-Holstein Interior Minister Stefan Studt his respects in Wacken. On the same day a delegation from China is expected.
“We can not take our festival,” says Carla, by Wednesday at close Frankfurt has arrived and with their friends camped in the grounds. With the Metal Greeting (index finger and the little finger are spread away from the thumb) and a loud “Wackeeeeeeeen” she goes towards the festival grounds. After the early showers making on Thursday afternoon, the sun over the WOA wide.
The Festival visitors were distributed in the square, small gardens decorated, erected flagpoles, built even small stages with generators to present himself their musical skills. It is talked, listened to music and drank a lot. “This also disappears the queasy feeling I on the way after the recent incidents have had,” says Peter from Manching near Munich. He is one of the few who apparently ever thought about their safety, “I had to cancel thinks for a moment, but that’s what the want is why I’m gone..” So he was one of around 700 metal fans, who rode on Wednesday morning at half past eight with the special train “Metal-Train” 14 hours from Munich to Itzehoe.
” There was until Thursday evening a few brawls, petty theft, but otherwise the location is quiet. the atmosphere is as always left out, “says police Siegfried Schoop the” world “. The police spokesman said that contingency plans for an escalation before the attacks in Southern templates were but now modified again. “We have in the immediate environment and forces that are always available,” said Schoop. Partly stood the motorist passing from around the world up to three hours in a traffic jam, but they took it calmly, told Schoop. It is his sixth deployment in Wacken.
The musical attractions hot this year Iron Maiden, Whitesnake, Saxon, Triptykon and Blind Guardian. In order to equalize the masses, is already started on smaller stage with the concerts from noon
A fear they then but in small Wacken. “Is Dangerous it probably only if panic breaks For example, if a drunken cries. ‘Allah is great’, “says Arp, who was born in a house right in the village center. He relies on the discretion of the visitor, “most of them are already for the umpteenth time here”.
Then it is loud. Shortly after 16h place Saxon happening on the Black Stage. Now the heads are shaken, her hair flying. Now no one thinks of a possible assassination now blaring music.
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