“Are We Still Safe, Mr Reiter?” is the question TZ (printed edition) and merkur.de have asked the Mayor of the City of Munich Dieter Reiter (SPD) today, July 21, 2016 in the light of the Wurzburg train axe attack and the fact that there currently are 11,000 refugees placed in the Bavarian capital.

When asked about the current safety situation in Munich in the light of the Wurzburg attack, Reiter answered that the City of Munich is in steady contact with the police and other security agencies and that there are currently no known threats. He also praised Bavarian police for their work on prevention, but pointed out that there was no such thing as absolute safety.

The Mayor sees the integration of the 11,000 refugees within the city as well on its way and as one of the most important things to do. The City has just decided on a package of measures for the swifter inclusion of the refugees into society, the so-called Integrationsplan (plan of integration). In its core, the plan is about creating possibilities for refugees to learn the German language as soon as possible in order to make it easier for them to find a job in Munich and its surrounding. He also sees it as an advantage of Munich that public opinion is still very positive in regard of integrating the refugees.

In the past weeks, the City has also decided on additional safety measures for the upcoming Oktoberfest festival. Also, following recent events, the Oktoberfest safety plan is going to be reviewed. You can read more about it here.