Bundeshaus politician irritated: Evacuation plans are open on the Internet

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Bomb alarm around the Federal Palace! A year ago, the mentally ill Philipp Z.* tried to gain access. Parliamentarians and federal councilors were chased from the building. But something went wrong during the evacuation. Politicians had to go through the security gate at the southern entrance one by one and then stood behind the Federal Palace like an unguarded flock of sheep. The then President of the Council of States, Brigitte Häberli-Koller (65, center) was completely forgotten in the building.

To increase security, the parliamentary services are planning various evacuation exercises together with the Federal Police Office (Fedpol). An emergency information app has also been created. It is intended to provide civil servants and parliamentarians with clear instructions about their behavior during events. And on Monday, an information film was shown to parliamentarians at the start of the spring session.

“In an emergency I would have to fear for my life.”

To the surprise of several parliamentarians, the evacuation plans can also be found openly on the internet. This is reported by ’20 Minutes’. In addition to maps of the Federal Palace – including the east and west wings, where several Federal Council members have their offices – emergency meeting points outside the building are also available.

Designated SVP chairman Marcel Dettling (43) is shocked about the publicly available emergency meeting points. “In an emergency situation, I would have to fear for my life if I had to leave the building quickly,” he says. Group colleague Franz Grüter (60) has a similar experience. The IT entrepreneur is outraged that it is ‘messy’ that data and plans are openly available on the Internet.

Also useful for visitors

Groen Landraad member and IT entrepreneur Gerhard Andrey (48) also has little understanding: “The emergency meeting points are sensitive information that should not be openly available on the internet.” The app could be a means to inform MPs in the event of an evacuation, but according to him the most important means is text messaging. “I have to figure out where I need to get to safety and in which direction.”

The parliamentary services, on the other hand, see no reason to be angry about “20 Minutes”. The information about the collection points is not secret. The new app, in which the collection points can be found, meets a need among council members, explains the head of security of the House of Representatives, Monika Baum. But it is also useful for visitors to the parliament building. “That is why the link to the app is also publicly accessible.” (dba)

* Name changed

Source:Blick