Overview
- The Dec. 5 festival will proceed with the horn-striking practice abolished, a rule the Verein Borkumer Jungens formalized in 2024 and confirms again this year.
- Police in Leer/Emden will be on site, and the city will reuse its protection concept with steward teams, a dedicated hotline and refuge rooms.
- Mayor Jürgen Akkermann says the measures proved effective as the 2024 celebration was reported as peaceful by the city and police.
- The Aurich public prosecutor dropped investigations that followed national reporting after 25 complaints yielded no direct victim reports.
- Residents continue to feel the impact of heavy media scrutiny, as organizers stress the tradition is for islanders and publish a YouTube explainer.