Rosenmontagszug in danger: drivers with drugs stop celebrations!

Rosenmontagszug in danger: drivers with drugs stop celebrations!

On March 4, 2025, a troubling incident occurred in the small town of Großvernich near Cologne during the traditional Rosenmontagszug. A 51-year-old man tried to drive his car into the happy crowd. The driver was traveling from a private property towards the carnival parade when the brave participant in the move stopped him by pulling the key out of the ignition lock. Fortunately, there was never a direct danger to the celebrants, as the police confirmed. During a subsequent check, it turned out that the man was under the influence of drugs; A cocaine test was positive. This incident was not the only one who clouded the celebrations.

Another incident occurred when a 39-year-old Weilerswister attacked a car angel, i.e. a helper of the move. The attacker added a head nut and also hit another helper in the face. A breath alcohol test resulted in alarming 1.76 per thousand. The police took the rioter in custody, where he spent the night on Veilchendienstag. Despite these incidents, the Rosenmontag in Großvernich was without major incidents.

committed organization behind the festival

The carnival in Cologne is organized by numerous volunteers who often have to take on a high workload. An example is Marc Michelske, who has been active as a trainer since the 2025 session. The 43-year-old lawyer juggles between professional obligations and his role in the festival committee. With his experience as a traffic and criminal lawyer, he brings both organizational talent and legal know-how into his work.

Michelske meets on Tuesdays in the wagon building hall, where the preparations for the Rosenmontagszug are made. He recently had to take a court appointment in Augsburg, in which he unfortunately arrived with two hours late. After his return trip on Wednesday evening, another meeting with the wagon farmers took place to advance the preparations for the upcoming train. The Rosenmontagszug extends over more than seven kilometers through Cologne city center and comprises more than 160 cars.

safety considerations in the foreground

The security situation during the carnival was taken particularly seriously by the authorities. On March 3, 2025, shortly before the big move, the police and security forces were on an increased willingness to alert due to terrorist threats against the carnival. Although the mood among the carnivalists was exuberant and happy, with numerous imaginative costumes, the security situation was closely monitored. NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul emphasized that one should not be broken by threats. Nevertheless, there was no concrete danger from attack plans for the carnival in Cologne.

Despite these security concerns, the Rosenmontagszug in Cologne remained calm on the whole, while some other events, such as the Rosenmontagszug in Essen-Kupferring, had to be canceled due to a bomb threat. This threat had been received half an hour before the planned start. This shows that not only the celebrations, but also the safety of the participants in carnival events are a comprehensive and annual challenge of several authorities.