Terrorism

“Europe’s capital”

German politicians react shocked to the Brussels attacks and their sympathy for the Belgian Nation and the victims. There is also criticism of the security authorities.

White roses on the steps of the Belgian Embassy in Berlin

“This is terrible, what is happening right now, and it hits all of us because it has hit the capital of Europe,” was from the distant Beijing, the first reaction of the Federal President Joachim Gauck, who is in China on a state visit. Gauck spoke of the Belgian Nation, the compassion of the Germans.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin, to feel the friends in Belgium at this Moment, “very close”. The horror was as great as the determination to defeat terrorism. “The perpetrators are the enemies of all the values for which Europe stands for,” said Merkel. You will work together in every way, with Belgium, in order to find the culprits and punish them. The Federal Cabinet will deal on Wednesday with the consequences of the attacks for Germany, announced Merkel.

In Germany itself the series of goods immediately after the Brussels attack, significantly more and more armed officers at airports and railway stations on the way. The borders to Belgium, Luxembourg and France have been sharper in a controlled manner. Deutsche Bahn halted its long-distance transport in the Belgian capital. The Foreign office called on German travelers to the greatest of caution. In the capital city of Berlin the government buildings remained for the public opened.

De Maizière: No retreating from the Terror

Thomas de Maizière on a long-term fight against Terror

Politicians of all Federal parties reacted with shock to the Brussels attack. Federal Minister of the interior Thomas de Maizière (CDU), ordered mourning flagging for all the Supreme Federal authorities. De Maizière said that the attacks from Brussels showed that the fight against international terrorism will take a long time. Referring to the recent arrest of the alleged terrorists Salah Abdeslam in Belgium, said de Maizière: “Successful Executive measures, such as arrests, may lead to the fact that the terrorists have even greater violence and as a reaction extra attacks to commit. But a retreat is not allowed.” The North Rhine-Westphalian interior Minister Ralf Jäger (SPD) has criticized the security authorities in neighbouring Belgium. The Salafism in the Brussels district of Molenbeek was grown for many years, “and you might need to intervene”. Frightening is that the Belgian authorities had heard of the preparations, apparently, nothing, he said the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”. The Islamist scene in the neighboring country threatened to “slip away”.

Muslim representatives: the wrath of God for the assassin

The Chairman of the Catholic German Bishop conference, cardinal Reinhard Marx, has announced for the current Holy week prayers for the victims and their families. The Chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, Aiman Mazyek referred to the perpetrators as “criminals and mass murderers that will meet the wrath of God and of all mankind”.

With a view to the Easter weekend, with increased travel and upcoming events is expected in Germany, with increased security measures. On coming Saturday a match of the German national football team against England in Berlin. Last November, a game in Germany had been cancelled against the Netherlands shortly after the attacks of Paris. So far, Germany has remained from the attacks of larger Dimension to be spared. Several Attempts failed, however, because the deployed bombs were explosive. Most recently, in December 2012, Salafist, in vain, attempted to detonate a bomb at Bonn’s Central train station. The only perfect Islamist attack in Germany took place in March 2011, as the Kosovars Arid Uka shot and killed at the Frankfurt airport, two U.S. soldiers.

Muslim Mazyek: the wrath of God on the assassins

Also Germany in its sights

According to “Bild”newspaper, a secret report of the Federal government assigned the interior Ministry, “the jihadist stated and actual goal-related violence”. Specifically, the report warn against attacks in the style of the attacks of Paris, or – as now – in Brussels. Multiple, partially over several days of time – shifted attacks against various objective categories of “use of firearms, explosive and incendiary bombs, as a possible scenario.”

However, the violence is growing ready-Islamist scene in Germany is growing rapidly. Constitutional protectors of the talk now available from over 8000 Salafists in Germany, more than twice as much as in 2011. Hundreds of them have lived for a time in the Syrian civil war region and returned afterwards again to Germany. There are also fears that the largely uncontrolled flow of refugees in the autumn of last year, a potential assassin into the country could be. In the population, a majority expects, according to the surveys, with a larger attack in Germany.