For security reasons: the German Interior Minister announces border controls for the European Football Championship

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“We will implement temporary border controls at all German borders during the tournament to prevent possible violent criminals from entering the country,” Faeser told the Rheinische Post on Tuesday. The focus is on protection against Islamists and other extremists, against hooligans and other violent criminals, but also on the security of networks against cyber attacks. “We are keeping a close eye on these current threats.”

The European Football Championship starts on June 14. Germany has often implemented temporary border controls when major international events took place in the country, including the 2006 World Cup.

Only in mid-February did the Federal Ministry of the Interior extend controls at the land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland until mid-June. The emphasis is mainly on the fight against smugglers and irregular migration. In addition to the controls introduced in October at the borders with the three neighboring countries, these have also been in force at the border with Austria since autumn 2015, where they are still limited until around mid-May.

The police union (GDP) believes that security authorities are well equipped to protect emerging countries. The deputy federal chairman of the GDP, Alexander Poitz, told the ‘Rheinische Post’ that there is an advanced security concept that ranges from targeted access controls to drone defense. However, it should not be overlooked that the police must protect not only the stadiums, but also the numerous public viewing areas and other places where many people were present during the European Championship. There can be no absolute security. “But we should not encourage a terrorist attack either. That would only benefit the terrorists.”

German security authorities have not changed their assessment of the Islamist threat to Germany following the devastating terrorist attack on a concert hall near Moscow. A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of the Interior said this on Monday in Berlin. “This was already high, as is evident from the measures taken by the security authorities against ISPK terrorism suspects.” Faeser believes that the Islamic State Khorasan (ISPK) group, known as an offshoot of the Islamic State (IS), was responsible for the attack.

(SDA)

Source:Blick