A Düsseldorf police spokesman said there was an “abstract outside threat” against the markets. According to information from the German Press Agency, it was a threatening call to the police control centre. The police therefore decided to close the markets to be on the safe side. “Safety must come first,” the police spokesman said.
According to the police, the liquidation of the markets went smoothly. All Christmas markets in central Düsseldorf were affected, as was the ice rink on Kö. To ward off any danger, the police also blocked all roads to the Christmas markets. According to the police, there was no acute danger. Shops in the city center – including those around the Christmas markets – remained open. Around 6 pm, the police lifted the roadblocks.