17
Jan 2025
12:18 UTC
Switzerland Tactical: Security measures announced ahead of WEF meeting at Davos, associated protests slated on January 18-25; maintain heightened vigilance
Current Situation
- Authorities have announced security measures and associated travel restrictions for the World Economic Forum (WEF) think tank’s annual meeting in Davos, Graubunden Canton from January 18-25. While the meeting will be held from January 20-24, associated security measures and travel restrictions will be in place from January 18-25.
- More than 25,000 individuals, mainly prominent figures in business, culture, politics, and science, will attend the meeting. This also includes 200-300 heads of state and government, ministers, and executive-level representatives of international organizations.
- Security zones with restricted access will be established around the venues from 18:00 (local time) on January 19 to 18:00 on January 24. These include hotels near Kirchner Museum Davos, along Baslerstrasse, and in parts of Promenade and Talstrasse near Kurpark, as well as areas near Davosersee Parkplatz and Eisstadion Davos. These zones will be demarcated with traffic barriers and those entering these zones will be subjected to security checks. Further details can be found here. Checks will also be carried out on roads and trains leading into Davos.
- Due to the security zones, parts of Promenade and Talstrasse will be closed to the public from January 18 until January 25, details of which can be found here and here.
- Air traffic will be restricted within a radius of 47 kilometers over Davos, as well as near the Swiss borders with Austria and Italy from January 17-25. Details are available here.
- Meanwhile, two demonstrations have been announced against the WEF in Davos on January 19.
Source: Federal Council of Switzerland
- The left-wing Strike WEF group will hike from Kublis on January 18 and reach Postplatz by 16:00 on January 19 to carry out a rally.
Source: Instagram
- The left-wing Strike WEF group will hike from Kublis on January 18 and reach Postplatz by 16:00 on January 19 to carry out a rally.
Source: Instagram
- The socialist “Jungsozialist*innen Schweiz” (Juso) party has announced a protest at Postplatz at 15:30 on January 19.
Source: Juso
- The socialist “Jungsozialist*innen Schweiz” (Juso) party has announced a protest at Postplatz at 15:30 on January 19.
Source: Juso
- It remains unclear whether these protests are registered with the authorities. The government has stated that “if a demonstration is held without authorization, the authorities will take whatever measures are required to ensure the security and freedom of movement of residents and guests”.
- It remains unclear whether these protests are registered with the authorities. The government has stated that “if a demonstration is held without authorization, the authorities will take whatever measures are required to ensure the security and freedom of movement of residents and guests”.
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent, the slated protests are likely to witness a turnout in the mid-dozens to low hundreds, with the Juso demonstration likely to garner the larger attendance. Similar protests against the WEF meeting, mainly from climate and/or left-wing groups, are also likely to be declared in the coming days. However, authorities are unlikely to allow the registration of protests near security zones, especially between January 20-24. They are also unlikely to allow unregistered demonstrations to transpire in the vicinity of these zones. As such, most protests are likely to take place in and near Postplatz, based on precedent.
- Considering heightened sentiments surrounding the WEF meeting, all protests will carry a latent potential for unrest. While minor localized clashes are likely, the potential for widespread violence is limited, especially with authorities expected to deploy a heavily bolstered security presence throughout Davos. In the event of escalating unrest, authorities are expected to respond with forcible crowd dispersal measures, including mass arrest, as indicated by the aforementioned statement.
- Considering the security arrangements, associated traffic restrictions, and declared protests, severe disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement are expected over Davos in the coming days. Those traveling via airports near Davos or the town’s railway stations are likely to be subjected to heightened security measures, potentially delaying travel.
- Additionally, there is a potential for disruptive protests by left-wing groups in other major cities across Switzerland during the WEF meeting. Climate activists are also liable to stage protest actions and block the meeting’s attendees from traveling to Davos. This was seen in January 2023, when “Debt for Climate” activists blocked a private jet airport in Altenrhein to prevent WEF attendees from traveling to Davos.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Davos on January 18-25 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance due to the planned and potential protests against the WEF meeting.
- Allot for disruptions to travel due to the heightened security measures implemented in connection with the WEF meeting.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
Davos, Switzerland
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Confirmed
Current Situation
- Authorities have announced security measures and associated travel restrictions for the World Economic Forum (WEF) think tank’s annual meeting in Davos, Graubunden Canton from January 18-25. While the meeting will be held from January 20-24, associated security measures and travel restrictions will be in place from January 18-25.
- More than 25,000 individuals, mainly prominent figures in business, culture, politics, and science, will attend the meeting. This also includes 200-300 heads of state and government, ministers, and executive-level representatives of international organizations.
- Security zones with restricted access will be established around the venues from 18:00 (local time) on January 19 to 18:00 on January 24. These include hotels near Kirchner Museum Davos, along Baslerstrasse, and in parts of Promenade and Talstrasse near Kurpark, as well as areas near Davosersee Parkplatz and Eisstadion Davos. These zones will be demarcated with traffic barriers and those entering these zones will be subjected to security checks. Further details can be found here. Checks will also be carried out on roads and trains leading into Davos.
- Due to the security zones, parts of Promenade and Talstrasse will be closed to the public from January 18 until January 25, details of which can be found here and here.
- Air traffic will be restricted within a radius of 47 kilometers over Davos, as well as near the Swiss borders with Austria and Italy from January 17-25. Details are available here.
- Meanwhile, two demonstrations have been announced against the WEF in Davos on January 19.
Source: Federal Council of Switzerland
- The left-wing Strike WEF group will hike from Kublis on January 18 and reach Postplatz by 16:00 on January 19 to carry out a rally.
Source: Instagram
- The left-wing Strike WEF group will hike from Kublis on January 18 and reach Postplatz by 16:00 on January 19 to carry out a rally.
Source: Instagram
- The socialist “Jungsozialist*innen Schweiz” (Juso) party has announced a protest at Postplatz at 15:30 on January 19.
Source: Juso
- The socialist “Jungsozialist*innen Schweiz” (Juso) party has announced a protest at Postplatz at 15:30 on January 19.
Source: Juso
- It remains unclear whether these protests are registered with the authorities. The government has stated that “if a demonstration is held without authorization, the authorities will take whatever measures are required to ensure the security and freedom of movement of residents and guests”.
- It remains unclear whether these protests are registered with the authorities. The government has stated that “if a demonstration is held without authorization, the authorities will take whatever measures are required to ensure the security and freedom of movement of residents and guests”.
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on precedent, the slated protests are likely to witness a turnout in the mid-dozens to low hundreds, with the Juso demonstration likely to garner the larger attendance. Similar protests against the WEF meeting, mainly from climate and/or left-wing groups, are also likely to be declared in the coming days. However, authorities are unlikely to allow the registration of protests near security zones, especially between January 20-24. They are also unlikely to allow unregistered demonstrations to transpire in the vicinity of these zones. As such, most protests are likely to take place in and near Postplatz, based on precedent.
- Considering heightened sentiments surrounding the WEF meeting, all protests will carry a latent potential for unrest. While minor localized clashes are likely, the potential for widespread violence is limited, especially with authorities expected to deploy a heavily bolstered security presence throughout Davos. In the event of escalating unrest, authorities are expected to respond with forcible crowd dispersal measures, including mass arrest, as indicated by the aforementioned statement.
- Considering the security arrangements, associated traffic restrictions, and declared protests, severe disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement are expected over Davos in the coming days. Those traveling via airports near Davos or the town’s railway stations are likely to be subjected to heightened security measures, potentially delaying travel.
- Additionally, there is a potential for disruptive protests by left-wing groups in other major cities across Switzerland during the WEF meeting. Climate activists are also liable to stage protest actions and block the meeting’s attendees from traveling to Davos. This was seen in January 2023, when “Debt for Climate” activists blocked a private jet airport in Altenrhein to prevent WEF attendees from traveling to Davos.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Davos on January 18-25 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance due to the planned and potential protests against the WEF meeting.
- Allot for disruptions to travel due to the heightened security measures implemented in connection with the WEF meeting.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
Davos, Switzerland
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Confirmed
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Related Reports
Switzerland
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ProtestSwitzerland Tactical: Iranian activists to protest at Place des Nations in Geneva at 11:00 (local time) on February 18; allot for disruptions
-
ProtestSwitzerland Tactical: Anti-fascist protest to be held at Ni-Una-Menos Platz in Zurich at 16:30 (local time) on January 24; maintain heightened vigilance
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ProtestSwitzerland Tactical: Protest by environmental activists ongoing at Lago heliport in Davos, as of afternoon hours (local time) on January 20; maintain heightened vigilance
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ProtestEurope Tactical: Protests related to Israel-Hamas conflict to be held in multiple cities on January 6-8; maintain heightened vigilance