Intelligence chief warns: Germany increasingly a target of Isis
The head of Germany's domestic security agency, the BfV, said on Wednesday that Germany has become a priority target for terror group Isis over the past year.
“Germany became significantly more prioritized as a target of Isis over the course of 2016,” said BfV President Hans-Georg Maaßen, adding that the level of danger continues to be high.
The country was shaken by several terror attacks in the name of Isis last year, most notably the December 19th Berlin Christmas market attack in which 12 people were killed.
Two other high-profile attacks in southern Germany last summer resulted in the perpetrators being killed, and dozens of people being injured.
Since the Berlin attack, Angela Merkel's government has pushed for a number of new security measures, including better tracking of potentially dangerous extremists and setting up deportation centres near major airports.
Maaßen further said that the number of people believed to be potentially violent Islamists in the country has steadily risen. There are currently an estimated 1,600 living in Germany.
The BfV’s hotline for terrorism tips has also received an uptick in calls, receiving 1,100 tips last year, or more than double that of 2015.
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“Germany became significantly more prioritized as a target of Isis over the course of 2016,” said BfV President Hans-Georg Maaßen, adding that the level of danger continues to be high.
The country was shaken by several terror attacks in the name of Isis last year, most notably the December 19th Berlin Christmas market attack in which 12 people were killed.
Two other high-profile attacks in southern Germany last summer resulted in the perpetrators being killed, and dozens of people being injured.
Since the Berlin attack, Angela Merkel's government has pushed for a number of new security measures, including better tracking of potentially dangerous extremists and setting up deportation centres near major airports.
Maaßen further said that the number of people believed to be potentially violent Islamists in the country has steadily risen. There are currently an estimated 1,600 living in Germany.
The BfV’s hotline for terrorism tips has also received an uptick in calls, receiving 1,100 tips last year, or more than double that of 2015.
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