Carnival in Cologne Kicks Off with Extra Police Presence

cologne, germany - The carnival season in the 'carnival city of Germany' Cologne starts with heightened security measures.

Increased Security Measures in Cologne

The carnival season in Cologne, known as the 'carnival city of Germany,' commenced on Thursday with the deployment of an additional 1500 police officers and security guards as a precautionary measure.

Concerns arose in Cologne, as well as in Nuremberg and Rotterdam, due to online threats from jihadists calling for attacks during certain carnival celebrations.

The German Federal Police (BKA) stated that there is no specific threat, referring to the recent threats as 'propaganda publications.' Authorities in several cities have advised the public not to be deterred by such threats.

However, the organizers of a children's parade and party scheduled for next Monday in Nuremberg have decided to cancel the event. Despite local police stating that the risks are normal as every year, the decision was made to cancel the participation of nine hundred children.

The carnival festivities began at 11:11 am and will continue until Wednesday. Cologne boasts over a hundred carnival associations, with parades and events taking place throughout the streets and squares. The largest parades occur on 'Rosenmontag,' and Cologne anticipates over a million visitors on that day, as is customary every year.