Luxembourg 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Luxembourg. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Luxembourg Country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Luxembourg at Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Luxembourg as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Luxembourg is a safe, modern country with infrastructure, services, and amenities similar to those found in the United States. The general crime rate is below the U.S. national average. Most crimes are petty street crimes, crimes of opportunity, and burglaries. Pickpocketing occurs with some regularity, often at popular tourist sites and near the train station, where victims are likely to be carrying cash for shopping and are usually distracted. Individuals who have traveled on trains to Luxembourg have also reported bags, laptops or other valuables stolen when left adjacent to seats or unattended. Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind. The Government of Luxembourg releases crime statistics in March/April each year for the preceding calendar year. Below are the reported statistics for 2018; statistics for 2019 will be released in March/April 2020. Comparisons between 2018 crime statistics and the 2017 figures indicate a 1.5% increase in recorded offenses with the police. The increase in general crime is a change from the downward trend since a 2014 peak. Property crime, which includes all types of robberies, thefts, thefts linked to vehicles, and burglaries of inhabited and uninhabited houses, is the main category of offenses that represents 61.5% of the total reported crime in 2018. This is a 2.7% increase from the previous year. Police attribute the increase in residential break-ins to criminal groups. Although there were 567 more crimes reported than the previous year, the crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants has been decreasing since 2014 and it is at the lowest level in five years. There were 6,194 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018 compared to 6,217 offenses in 2017. Burglaries occurred most often during the winter months or over school holidays, when residents are likely to be on vacation. In the majority of these cases, burglaries targeted unoccupied homes; home invasions or burglaries of occupied residences are infrequent. 1 Violent crime is rare but does exist. In 2018, four murders and ten cases of attempted murder occurred in Luxembourg. Offenses against persons, which includes violence against persons, threats, breaches of morals, racial discrimination, and other offenses against persons constituted 19.9% of all reported offenses. This was a slight decrease of 2.1% or 159 offenses from 2017. The number of complaints involving rape (122) and indecent assault (76) declined slightly from 2017 (126 complaints involving rape and 84 for indecent assault). There were no reports of U.S. citizens subjected to aggravated robberies (robberies involving a weapon). Cybersecurity Issues While service providers are modern and efficient, they are susceptible to hacking and unauthorized intrusions. In 2018, hackers attacked Luxembourg’s Parliament database, rendering internal administrative documents accessible to hackers for 24 hours. Spear phishing attacks are common; however, they are generally easy to recognize and can be avoided by simply deleting the email. Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, and Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices. Other Areas of Concern The U.S. government does not restrict any areas in Luxembourg for its personnel. The neighborhood surrounding the main train station, referred to locally as the “Quartier Gare,” does have a slightly higher crime rate than the rest of the city. While the train station itself is safe, traveling the side streets that intersect the area, particularly at night, can expose individuals to a greater risk of becoming a victim of crime. Many adult entertainment clubs are located in this area, and open prostitution and narcotics trafficking occurs on a small scale. While police maintain a continuous presence and work diligently to enforce the law, when contrasted with the level of safety found in the rest of the city, the Quartier Gare is an area of concern. Avoid traveling alone on small side streets after dark, particularly in the Quartier Gare neighborhood. Transportation-Safety Situation Road Safety and Road Conditions Main roads and highways are well illuminated and well maintained, comparable to those found in the U.S., and present no inherent dangers for motorists. Many towns and villages connect via smaller, older, and more challenging roads, which are often winding and not illuminated. Use caution driving outside of major thoroughfares. Cell phone use while driving is illegal without a hands-free system. Seat belt use is compulsory. Pedestrians have priority when crossing the road. Drivers must keep reflective clothing in the vehicle to wear in case of emergency or breakdown. Drivers must carry a blank accident report in their vehicle, available through all local insurance companies. This report is necessary for any accident not involving injury. Typically, police do not respond to these types of accidents; it is the driver’s responsibility to exchange information and file the report with the insurance companies. In the event of injury, notify police immediately by calling 112 or 113. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a concern. Police report that a majority of accidents involve an impaired driver. Similar to Belgium, France, and Germany, the legal blood alcohol limit in Luxembourg is .05%. Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal, and drivers face substantial fines if caught. In 2018, authorities checked 19,346 drivers at 185 checkpoints, withdrawing 1,743 driver licenses mainly due to alcohol (81%) and speeding (10%). Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad. Public Transportation Conditions Luxembourg has an excellent record regarding public transportation. Virtually every part of the country is accessible by bus or train; both are safe and reliable. Within the city, it is not uncommon to see young children riding public buses unaccompanied by adults, as Luxembourgers have a high level of confidence in their public transportation. Taxi service in the metropolitan areas is safe and appropriately regulated by the government. In 2017, a new tram began service in Luxembourg, linking Luxexpo to Pont Rouge in the Kirchberg district along Avenue J.F. Kennedy. In 2018, three new tramway stations began servicing the Limpertsberg district, extending the tram across the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge. The third and fourth stages will be complete in 2021, extending the tramline to the Luxembourg Airport, the Luxembourg train station, and the neighborhood of Cloche d’Or. As of March 2020, Luxembourg will offer public transportation free of charge to all users. Review OSAC’s report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Aviation/Airport Conditions Although small, the Luxembourg airport (LUX) is well equipped to handle the volume of passenger (4.4 million) and cargo (893,000 tons) traffic as reported in 2019. Airport security procedures are similar to those found throughout Western Europe, and meet all U.S. aviation standards. A cadre of trained aviation security professionals screens passengers and cargo using modern equipment. Uniformed police officers and private contract security personnel maintain airport security. Terrorism Threat The U.S. Department of State has assessed Luxembourg as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The High Commission for National Protection (Haut-commissariat à la protection nationale, HCNP) falls under the responsibility of the Prime Minister and Minister of State, with the main mission of ensuring the safety of Luxembourg’s population. It is responsible for assigning alert levels to Luxembourg. The current VIGILNAT alert level for Luxembourg is 2 out of 4, indicating a “Medium” threat level. Alert Level 2 applies when the terrorist threat subject to analysis is judged to be possible and likely; consists of strengthening vigilance against a real threat that is as yet undefined; and triggers the implementation of temporary measures of vigilance, prevention, and protection of variable intensity that do not excessively limit the country's economic and social life. While there are no known indigenous terrorist organizations operating in Luxembourg, the country shares regional concerns with its neighbors: France, Belgium, and Germany. All three of these countries experienced terrorist attacks and major terrorism-related arrests in recent