Germany’s new security measures

World Today

Police escorting people from Olympia mallPolice escort people who leave the Olympia mall in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016 after shots were fired. Police said that at least six people have been killed. (AP Photo/Sebastian Widmann)

Germany wants to revoke the citizenship of so-called “hate preachers”-one of many proposals presented Thursday by the country’s Interior Ministry.

This after four attacks in July that left at least 10 people dead. ISIL claimed responsibility for two of the attacks: One a suicide bombing, the other an attack on train passengers with an ax. CCTV America’s Guy Henderson gave us this report from Berlin.

Follow Guy Henderson on Twitter @guyhendersonde

Under pressure to act after last month’s violence, the German government’s proposed answer is more power to identify – and deport – those who might pose a threat.

Thomas De Maiziere, German Interior Minister wants to tighten the rules on the right of residency for foreigners who commit crimes or who constitute a risk to public safety in Germany.

“We want to introduce new grounds for holding somebody in custody, so that we can then make sure they leave the country,” said De Maiziere.

Five incidents inside a month has left Germans on edge.

Police raided sites in several German cities on Wednesday. Among the targets-three Islamist clerics suspected of recruiting for ISIL. So far, no arrests have been made.

Police conducted searches in different locations of the German state of the North Rhine-Westphalia in relation to the Islamc State group connections. (PHOTO / DPA via AFP)

Police conducted searches in different locations of the German state of the North Rhine-Westphalia in relation to the Islamc State group connections. (PHOTO / DPA via AFP)

The German proposals appear to mark a shift in the balance between guaranteeing people’s civil liberties, and ensuring they’re kept safe. But some ideas are more controversial than others. Next week, regional ministers will gather here in Berlin to call for a ban on the Burqa-an outer garment worn by Muslim women.

De Maiziere travels to Paris in two weeks. There, talks will focus on how easy it has become for terrorists worldwide to communicate through encrypted social media.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, presents measures for increased security, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. De Maiziere is proposing stripping dual nationals who fight for extremist groups abroad of their German citizenship, and wants to make it easier to deport foreigners deemed to be dangerous. (Wolfgang Kumm/dpa via AP)

Bernard Cazeneuve, the French Interior Minister, says this is a key issue in the anti-terror action because much of the information exchanged among terrorists is encrypted, which makes it difficult to launch intelligence operations.

The German plans also include placing thousands more police officers on the streets.

That’s something few here are likely to oppose.


Peter Vincent on Germany’s new security measures

For more on the dramatic changes to Germany’s security policy, we spoke to Peter Vincent – a counter-terrorism and law enforcement expert who works at BORDERPOL – a non-profit focusing on international law enforcement.