Calls for camera surveillance of German Christmas markets due to increased terror threat

According to the report of the international group Tasnim news agency quoting “Die Welt” newspaper, in order to ensure the security of Christmas markets in times of increased risk of terrorism, the German Federal Police Union has considered the plan of using surveillance video cameras. To date, these have rarely been used due to data protection concerns. Currently, the high workload of the police staff is a problem.

In this way, after three arrests in Germany for planning terrorist attacks in Christmas markets, Jochen Kopelke , head of the police union (GdP), recommended that all Christmas markets be video-monitored. Christmas is a useful tool that should be used intensively using the best technology. So far, this has only been used in isolated cases. Because preventive video surveillance is often not possible due to data protection regulations.

He also emphasized that the police are severely challenged in terms of personnel to protect the Christmas markets. According to him, the presence of police forces in these places is done by changing the list, banning holidays and overtime. These extra shifts cannot be maintained permanently.

Rainer Wendt, head of the German Police Association (DPolG), also sees the police as currently under severe pressure. According to him, on the one hand, as a result of the Gaza war, police officers are trying to protect Jewish institutions, and on the other hand, the federal police in the states cannot support Christmas markets because the forces have reached the limits of their capacity.

However, Frank Hackelberg, director general of the German showmen’s association, assured the Düsseldorf newspaper “Reinsche Post” (Saturday): “The 3,200 Christmas markets in Germany are safe. People should be careful, but not worried.”

Recently, a 20-year-old man was arrested in the German state of Lower Saxony on charges of planning a terrorist attack during Christmas.

Daniela Behrens, the interior minister of the state of Lower Saxony, said in a speech: Regarding the security situation in the Christmas markets, the police there are “very clear and strong” due to the armed conflict in the Middle East. It works.

Before that, two young men were arrested in North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg, who are said to be close to the ISIS terrorist organization and planning to attack the Christmas market. had done They are in custody.

Dusseldorf’s prosecutor’s office announced on Thursday that they had agreed to rob visitors to a Christmas market in Leverkusen at the beginning of December using a A fuel explosion in a small truck.

Thomas Halden Wang, the head of the German Internal Security Agency (BfV) warned in Berlin on Wednesday that the risk of terrorist attacks in Germany is real. And it is higher than it has been for a long time.

According to Halden Wang, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has for some time been aware of ISIS’ stated desire to carry out attacks in the West. has observed He himself has repeatedly emphasized that every day an extreme terrorist attack may take place in Germany. According to him, due to the war in Israel and the Gaza Strip, this threat has now acquired a new quality. He warned against terrorist attacks in his country due to the escalation of conflicts in West Asia and admitted that it is not possible to guarantee 100% security of Christmas markets.

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