Faeser sees "continuing high" Islamist terror threat
In Germany, the threat from Islamist groups remains high, says Interior Minister Faeser. She takes these threats "very seriously" while defending her plans for further knife bans, which have been criticized as "symbolic politics".
Following the cancellation of three concerts by US pop star Taylor Swift, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the threat of Islamist terrorism in Germany as "persistently high". This assessment continues to apply, the SPD politician said after visiting the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. She spoke of a "serious Islamist threat situation", as seen in Vienna.
"Our country is also in the sights of jihadist organizations, particularly IS and its currently most dangerous offshoot, IS-PK. Islamist terrorist organizations, but also often self-radicalizing individual Islamist terrorists, pose a constant threat," Faeser emphasized. It is clear that we will not be intimidated. "But we take threats very seriously." In Austria, suspected Islamist attack plans on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna were uncovered last week.
Minister wants to ban more types of knives
Faeser defended her plans to expand knife bans and the use of facial recognition by security authorities. Given the increase in "brutal knife violence", she will "soon" present a bill to ban further types of knives, she said during her visit to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Cologne. However, she also called for more weapons and knife-free zones, as well as expanded police controls.
Faeser's plans for expanding knife bans have been criticized, particularly within the Union. Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann spoke of "symbolic politics" that do not enable more effective controls. Faeser, however, pointed out that her plans are based on demands from the Bundesrat. She wants to ban the carrying of knives with blades of six centimeters or more, instead of the current twelve, and all types of switchblades in the future.
Moreover, German security authorities should be given the power to use automated facial recognition technology on the internet to react to threats and changing global situations, Faeser said in Cologne. "Much of this can also be found online." Therefore, critics of her initiative should not "hide behind data protection".
Concerns about data protection
Especially the coalition partners Greens and FDP still have concerns that this could be too much of an infringement on fundamental rights. Faeser's ministry has already clarified that it is not about evaluating real-time images from surveillance cameras, but rather about searching for potential suspects on the internet.
Faeser's initiative is also seen as a reaction to the case of Daniela Klette, a suspected RAF terrorist who was arrested in February after living undetected in Berlin for years. A journalist had reportedly identified her months earlier using facial recognition software, as she had posted private photos online. Investigators had complained about lacking authorization for such internet research.
The Commission, which is responsible for protecting Germany's constitution, has expressed concern about the potential infringement on fundamental rights with Minister Faeser's proposal to use automated facial recognition technology on the internet. Faeser, in defense of her plans, argued that this measure is necessary to address the serious Islamist threat situation in Germany, as seen in Vienna.
