No rubber swords, no plastic guns, no bags: the world's largest gaming fair and a massive heavy metal music fest in Germany have introduced new rules this year after a recent series of attacks that have shaken the country.
Organizers of the annual gamescom event in Cologne said Tuesday that "replica weapons and weapon-like items" on costumes will be banned this year. Gamescon takes place Aug. 17-21
Cosplayers attend the 2012 Gamescom fair in Cologne. This year, organizers have banned cosplay weapons. (Martin Meissner/Associated Press)
Replica weapons are a frequent accessory in cosplay — short for costume play — where fans dress up as video game or anime characters. Actors working for exhibitors will still be able to carry weapons at the event, provided they are registered and checked first.
Wacken Open Air festivalgoers are seen in the small village of Wacken, near Hamburg, in 2007. It is considered one of the world's biggest metal festivals. (Patrick Lux/Associated Press)
Meanwhile, heavy metal fans planning to attend this year's Wacken Open Air festival, taking place Aug. 4-6 in a small village northwest of Hamburg, might want to travel light after organizers said this week that rucksacks and bags are banned from the main festival grounds this year.
Wacken spokeswoman Anna Lorenz said Tuesday that checking rucksacks would slow security checks too much. But festival-goers will be able to take in waist packs, and larger bags are still allowed at camping sites nearby.
Typically, Wacken festival attendees bring large rucksacks and heavy bags in order to camp out. Those planning to attend this year's event will have to travel light, with organizers banning rucksacks and heavy bags from the main festival grounds due to security. (Axel Heimken/dpa/Associated Press)
The Wacken festival is expected to draw 75,000 people this year to watch more than 120 acts, including Iron Maiden, Saxon and Blind Guardian.
Safety concerns have increased at public events across Germany since a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a music festival in Ansbach last month, injuring 15 people. The country also saw one of the worst mass shootings in its history last month in Munich.
Germany's Gamescon bans cosplay weapons, Wacken music fest nixes bags
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