Police director Bern makes explosive demands in the fight against football fan violence: secret service must eavesdrop on hooligans

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

The Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) is now allowed to eavesdrop on suspects when it comes to terrorism, the proliferation of nuclear weapons or threats to critical infrastructure. That is not enough for Bern police director Reto Nause (52). He wants to expand the powers of the secret service to include the fight against violent extremists. In concrete terms, the NDB should also be able to listen in and eavesdrop on football hooligans. CH Media reports this.

“We are dealing with violent extremism here,” Nause tells the medium, referring to Berner Young Boys’ Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade at the end of November. In the run-up to the match, militant supporters of AS Roma traveled to Switzerland to settle scores with the Serbian ultras who had also arrived. The Bern authorities only found out about this thanks to Italian colleagues. “In Switzerland, however, we have no possibility to preventively monitor such groups.”

Nausea demands that in the future the NDB may also ‘monitor violent extremist groups with procurement measures that require approval’. Using methods such as mail and phone monitoring, use of Trojan horses and bugs, and penetration of computer systems. A judge would have to order this supervision anyway.

Explosive question

The request is explosive and has been rejected several times. Parliament always believed that restraint was required when it came to political-ideological movements. For Nause, however, it is clear: “The recent past has clearly shown that violent extremist groups are growing. To monitor their activities, the intelligence community now relies largely on publicly available sources. This leaves a big hole in the internal security system.”

But it’s not just hooligans that Nause wants the NDB to keep an eye on. He also keeps an eye on Eritreans loyal to the regime who abuse their right to hospitality in Switzerland by putting pressure on compatriots who are critical of the regime. Only in September did a dispute between Eritreans escalate in Stuttgart, Germany. 63 of the attackers were from Switzerland and several were injured.

‘Switzerland is practically blind’

Hooligans, Eritreans loyal to the regime, right-wing extremists, left-wing extremists, organized criminals: Switzerland is now “practically blind”, while the threat has “grown exponentially”.

Thanks to information from Italy, the Bern police were able to prepare for the Italian ultras in November and were present with a large contingent. The element of surprise was gone, which apparently caused the Roman hooligans to change their plans. (sf)

Source:Blick