A dozen stone bollards will be erected on the sidewalk opposite the parliament square that hosts a twice-weekly farmer’s market and regular events. The security measure was suggested by the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) in view of the increased threat of terrorism throughout Europe.
It has now been approved by the administrative department of the Federal Parliament. The building permit application for the bollards will be submitted in autumn.
Terrorists choose places with a high media presence, said Peter Winkler, project manager of the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics, on Swiss public television SRF on Friday.
He added that it was important to find a good balance between regular activity on the parliament square and a minimum amount of security to ensure that nobody can simply drive through the main entrances of the parliament building.
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The space around government buildings is often fenced off and high security. Not so in Bern where Parliament Square is the most democratic and accessible of spaces. Farmers sell their produce here, children play in the fountains, political campaigns are launched and activities range from concerts to demonstrations to ice-skating. The “arranged emptiness” of the…
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We take you to the food market outside parliament in Bern and to markets at the heart of four other cities around the world.
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