Strasbourg (AFP)

A year after the bloody attack that plunged into the famous Christmas market in Strasbourg on December 11, 2018, Christophe Castaner posted his "serenity" on Friday, strolling through the alleys of the 450th edition of this market, on the very day of its opening. .

"The message we want to pass is that of serenity and the feeling that our forces will be fully engaged with the elected officials so that the international event that is the Christmas market is going well," he said. highlighted.

Although there is "no particular concern for Strasbourg," the "terrorist risk is permanent in France and remains at a high level," said Christophe Castaner.

Then he resumed this walk of more than one hour among the 300 chalets of the market, tasting a mulled wine and lending a good grace to the game of selfies, but also thanking the many members of the police crossed on his way for their "reassuring presence and commitment". Among them: anti-terrorist intervention sections or Operation Sentinel soldiers.

According to the minister, "nearly 760 people, men, women, police, gendarmerie, civil security, firefighters, municipal police, the army will be mobilized to ensure" the security of the Christmas market until December 30th.

At 7:10 pm sharp, the huge fir tree that traditionally adorns the Place Kleber, in the historic heart of the city, should light up, but by 14:00, the streets of the "Christmas capital" were animated with the opening of this market, the most famous in France.

Boules, santons, foie gras from Alsace and bredele (traditional biscuits) are now waiting for walkers.

This market, "it's the wonder of young and old and even old people," smiles Christiane while his companion Dany takes the tree of the place Kléber in photo with his phone.

"The attack, we think about it but it does not stop us, we must go out anyway, stand together, do not externalize the fear, otherwise they will have won," said the strapless Strasbourg.

"It is good ?" asks a salesgirl in his cottage to Fabienne and his daughter Solène, from Nice, who enjoy the opening of the cottages their first glass of hot apple juice in the tourist area of ​​Petite France. "It's really nice and more in different neighborhoods, it's very nice," rejoices Fabienne, delighted with the good-natured atmosphere.

- Hot wine -

Under the smell of mulled wine, however, the memory of the evening Cherif Chekatt sowed terror in the streets of the center, at the time when the Christmas market was about to close.

Armed with a pistol and a knife, he killed five men and wounded ten people before being killed by a police patrol after two days on the run.

On December 11, a tribute day will be organized in memory of the victims of the attack, moment of emotion halfway through the Christmas market.

This year, the security measures have been further reinforced, whether it concerns law enforcement personnel, the filtering of visitors on the bridges leading to the historic center or obstacles and other pits set up to counter threat of rammed vehicles.

The fear of terrorism, however, does not seem to have discouraged visitors, for the most part convinced that the attacks can take place "anywhere".

"The trends are good, we have a load of reservations that is very encouraging for the whole season of Christmas markets, but there is still a concern because of the SNCF strike of December 5," says Pierre Siegel , Group of hoteliers, restaurant owners and beverage companies in Bas-Rhin.

Beyond Strasbourg, all of north-eastern France enters the season of the Christmas markets, from Montbéliard to Metz, via Kaysersberg and Sélestat. Colmar, which expects 1.5 million visitors against 2 million in Strasbourg, also inaugurates its market Friday night.

© 2019 AFP