East German Police Feared 1988 MJ Concer

East German Police Feared 1988 MJ Concert

The German newspaper Bild published a message from the files from East Germany`s secret police (Stasi) from 1988 indicating that the Stasi had security concerns about the Michael Jackson concert in West Berlin on June 19, 1988.

The file indicates that East German officials thought the Michael Jackson concert in front of the Reichstag could be used to test the authorities east of the Berlin Wall. The Stasi wanted to keep young people away from East Berlin areas where they could hear Michael Jackson's West Berlin concert. To do that, the Stasi proposed broadcasting the show in a stadium with a two-minute time delay so any "political provocation" could be censored or video footage from another Michael Jackson concert could be shown instead.

The plan never took place. Instead, East German authorities staged a crackdown on Michael Jackson fans in their territory during the concert.

Source: MJFC / Bild / AP