Plenty of police activity on Saturday Here’s how Cologne and Bonn experienced the start of the Carnival season

Bonn · Despite the wet and cold weather, several tens of thousands of Jecks dressed in colourful costumes took over squares and streets in the Rhineland. In Cologne, a drinks cart was broken into and 260 litres of Kölsch was stolen. Here’s an overview.

Thousands of Carnival lovers gathered from early Saturday morning in the centres of Cologne, Düsseldorf and, of course, Bonn for the start of Carnival at 11.11am and to properly celebrate the start of the fifth season, despite continuous drizzle.

The opening session is “traditionally” also a particularly busy day for the police. Crowds, high alcohol consumption and aggressive disturbances of the peace also led to a lot of police operations this year. In Cologne, around 1000 extra officers were on duty. In Düsseldorf there were also more officers on duty. In the cathedral city, many streets around the party area were secured with lorries, namely refuse trucks, and concrete blocks to protect against possible attacks. There was a ban on lorries over 7.5 tonnes driving in the city centre.

By 10.30am, the maximum visitor numbers had been reached at the Heumarkt in Cologne. At 11am the Alter Markt was also full, said police. The organisers were not letting any more people into the area. At around 3pm, officers from the Ordnungsamt and the police also closed the Zülpicher Straße area to further Carnival goers.

Multiple offences in Cologne

In the morning, a vehicle owned by a tradesman and parked in front of the waiting room at the cathedral was broken into and 26 “Pittermänchen” (ten litre Kölsch beer kegs) were stolen. Around 1.45pm, two young women (both 23) were hit in the head by a beer tankard in Am Domhof. The women, from Kerpen, were so badly injured that they had to be treated in hospital. According to initial enquiries, someone threw the tankard from a balustrade into the crowd. The perpetrator disappeared in the crowd before police could intervene. Investigations into grievous bodily harm are ongoing.

Carnival hustle and bustle in Bonn

The main celebration in Bonn on 11.11 took place, as is traditional, at the Marktplatz. More than 800 Jecks partied there from 10.30am under the motto: “Let’s party and study”, including the Bonn royal couple, Prince Dirk II and his Bonna, Alexandra III. At their side were the Children’s Prince Luca I and the Children’s Bonna, Christina I.

So they could forget the horrible, drizzly weather and temperatures of 6 degrees, Willi Bellinghausen banged the keys of his piano loudly and ensured, along with the princes and princesses and host Steffen Eisel, there was a great Carnival atmosphere.

Beuel City Soldiers appear at the Climate Conference

There was a welcome break for delegates of the Climate Conference when Cop23 participants disappeared into the world of Carnival for almost an hour on Saturday afternoon. Enchanted by the Rhineland tradition, thrilled by the sounds of a marching band and enraptured by a young dance couple, the international guests celebrated the Beuel City Soldiers. 90 officers and cadets showcased a joyful Carnival in the tent in the Bonn-Zone. “We are proud, that we are able to present our tradition in front of such an audience,” said Thomas Theuerzeit, spokesman for the City Soldiers.

(Original text: Michael Wrobel, Holger Willcke (with material from the DPA). Translated by Kate Carey.)

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