Brussels fireworks should go ahead, says mayor

The mayor of Brussels, Yvan Mayeur, says he still intends for the New Year’s firework show to go ahead as planned, in the wake of the Berlin Christmas market attack on Monday, in which 12 people were killed and 48 injured.

Authorities are currently assessing the situation in the capital and are taking into account the recent Berlin and Nice disasters, both of which involved freight trucks. Protective blocks have been installed around the Plaisirs d’Hiver Christmas market as a precaution.

“The police confirm that the setup is adequate,” said Mayeur. “A small correction has been made in one place, but everything is done so that an event like that in Berlin does not happen.”

The “small correction” the mayor made mention of was the installation of a police vehicle at a particular zone of access to the Christmas market. The zone is used by emergency vehicles if necessary, and so did not allow for the use of fixed protective obstacles.

A final decision on the 31 December fireworks display will be made sometime next week.