Germany stepping up security following al-Qaida attack alert
Source: Agencies |
November 18, 2010, Thursday
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GERMANY said yesterday that it had strong evidence Islamist militants were planning attacks in the next two weeks and ordered security at potential targets such as train stations and airports to be tightened.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said details of the plot emerged after parcel bombs were dispatched from Yemen to US targets at the end of October, and separate postal bombs by suspected Greek militants were sent to prominent figures including Chancellor Angela Merkel.
At a news conference hastily convened at his ministry in Berlin, de Maiziere said the security threat in Germany had risen and that intelligence services had received concrete indications that attacks were planned at the end of November.
"There are grounds for concern but not for hysteria," said the minister. "We have obtained further relevant information in addition to the previous findings which justify the view that we are now dealing with a new situation."
The government did not give details of the plot but a German media report said security officials suspected a number of al-Qaida operatives were planning attacks in Britain and Germany.
De Maiziere said he had instructed German police to step up security measures around the country at potential targets, noting that the findings showed Islamic militants were still planning attacks against Germany.
Received tip-off
"Citizens will be able to see such police measures. In addition to this, there are a lot of measures that they won't be able to see," he said. "This will apply until further notice."
Germany, which received a tip-off from a foreign intelligence service about the suspected November plot, was working closely with its international partners, de Maiziere said, adding that border controls could be stepped up.
De Maiziere said the situation was comparable to the security alarm surrounding Germany's federal elections in 2009, but he declined to give precise details of the threats.
"You will understand that in the interests of carrying out a successful investigation it wouldn't be clever to make these investigations so public," he said.
German daily Der Tagesspiegel reported afterwards that security officials believed between two and four al-Qaida militants were about to carry out attacks in Britain and Germany, and were expected to arrive in Germany on November 22.
The attacks could target crowded places like Christmas markets, and it was believed that militant Ilyas Kahsmiri had masterminded the plan, the report said.
Germany has long viewed itself as a potential target because it has nearly 5,000 military personnel stationed in Afghanistan, the third largest contingent of the 150,000-strong international force fighting the Taliban-led insurgency.
De Maiziere said Germany and its allies would do "everything in its power" to keep the public safe from attack.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said details of the plot emerged after parcel bombs were dispatched from Yemen to US targets at the end of October, and separate postal bombs by suspected Greek militants were sent to prominent figures including Chancellor Angela Merkel.
At a news conference hastily convened at his ministry in Berlin, de Maiziere said the security threat in Germany had risen and that intelligence services had received concrete indications that attacks were planned at the end of November.
"There are grounds for concern but not for hysteria," said the minister. "We have obtained further relevant information in addition to the previous findings which justify the view that we are now dealing with a new situation."
The government did not give details of the plot but a German media report said security officials suspected a number of al-Qaida operatives were planning attacks in Britain and Germany.
De Maiziere said he had instructed German police to step up security measures around the country at potential targets, noting that the findings showed Islamic militants were still planning attacks against Germany.
Received tip-off
"Citizens will be able to see such police measures. In addition to this, there are a lot of measures that they won't be able to see," he said. "This will apply until further notice."
Germany, which received a tip-off from a foreign intelligence service about the suspected November plot, was working closely with its international partners, de Maiziere said, adding that border controls could be stepped up.
De Maiziere said the situation was comparable to the security alarm surrounding Germany's federal elections in 2009, but he declined to give precise details of the threats.
"You will understand that in the interests of carrying out a successful investigation it wouldn't be clever to make these investigations so public," he said.
German daily Der Tagesspiegel reported afterwards that security officials believed between two and four al-Qaida militants were about to carry out attacks in Britain and Germany, and were expected to arrive in Germany on November 22.
The attacks could target crowded places like Christmas markets, and it was believed that militant Ilyas Kahsmiri had masterminded the plan, the report said.
Germany has long viewed itself as a potential target because it has nearly 5,000 military personnel stationed in Afghanistan, the third largest contingent of the 150,000-strong international force fighting the Taliban-led insurgency.
De Maiziere said Germany and its allies would do "everything in its power" to keep the public safe from attack.
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