Posted by
Darko Trifunovic on Friday, July 10, 2009 6:47:32 PM
Experts see increased terror risk in Germany
Security experts have warned of a possible terrorist threat in the
run-up to September's general election. An al-Qaeda commando unit, they
say, is believed to be planning attacks in Western Europe, including
Germany.
German security officials, meeting in Berlin on Thursday, told
the country's leaders that there was a growing threat of terrorist
attacks.
Under-Secretary for the Interior August Hanning said intelligence
officers had observed an increase in traffic of Internet video
messages, more travel by known Islamists to and from Pakistan, as well
as a number of warnings.
"We take this seriously," Hanning said after the meeting. "We will
do everything to thwart these efforts." Hanning added that terrorists
could attempt to influence Germany's upcoming parliamentary election in
September, but said there was no direct knowledge of plans to carry out
specific attacks.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Security experts are poised to "thwart" terrorist attacks, says Hanning
The Joint Terror Defense Center (GTAZ) in Berlin is said to have
warned the German government that a group of about 15 terrorists had
left Pakistan to conduct attacks in western countries. The GTAZ
reportedly said that among the suspected terrorists were Arabs,
Americans, Chechens and four Germans.
An intelligence service warning also names two men – Abu Abdul
Rahman al-Najdi and Adam Gadahn – who allegedly trained the men at a
terror camp in Pakistan in the first half of this year and have also
been responsible for coordinating their mission.
German security experts have been planning with police and the
country's emergency services how to respond in the event of a terror
attack. They have voiced concern that terrorists may try to influence
voters as they did in Spain with the Madrid train bombing on March 11,
2004, or try to pressure Berlin to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan.
An unnamed terror expert at the conference said "the hazard had taken on a new leap in quality."
With the start of the summer travel season, the German government
has also warned vacationers against visiting countries with a known
terrorist potential.
gb/dpa/AFP/zdf
Editor: Michael Lawton