Frankfurt (Germany), 21 Oct. (LaPresse) – “Federal and state security authorities are closely monitoring developments and maintaining a close exchange of information, for example within the Joint Centre for Combating Extremism and Terrorism. Threat assessments are carried out on an ongoing basis, including in close coordination with our partners, such as France and Italy.” This was stated by a spokesperson for the German Ministry of the Interior during the federal government’s press conference in Berlin, in response to a question about the risk of violence during the demonstrations announced for 31 October in Germany’s major cities. “First and foremost, it is very important for me to make a clear distinction. On the one hand, there are peaceful student protests; on the other, there is a broad extremist milieu prepared to resort to violence, which could exploit these demonstrations to incite violence,” the spokesperson clarified, referring to the youth demonstrations announced in the wake of the protests in France. “The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (the domestic intelligence service – ed.), for example, is also stepping up its monitoring of relevant websites and social media channels, where calls for violent protests or unrest might be disseminated,” he explained. “Should the need arise, the Federal Police will, as usual, support the police forces of the Länder in the context of administrative assistance, for example with units specialising in evidence gathering and arrests,” he added. “A further task of the Federal Police is, of course, to turn back at the border any individuals who may be intending to enter Germany to take part in violent unrest, thereby preventing them from entering the country,” the spokesperson emphasised. When asked about the number of demonstrators expected, he clarified: “I cannot provide specific figures, but the situation is being monitored constantly and threat assessments are being updated continuously.”
Germany: Berlin in contact with Italy and France over the risk of violence at protests
Frankfurt (Germany), 21 Oct. (LaPresse) – “Federal and state security authorities are closely monitoring developments and maintaining a close exchange of information, for example within the Joint Centre for Combating Extremism and Terrorism. Threat assessments are carried out on an ongoing basis, including in close coordination with our partners, such as France and Italy.” This was stated by a spokesperson for the German Ministry of the Interior during the federal government’s press conference in Berlin, in response to a question about the risk of violence during the demonstrations announced for 31 October in Germany’s major cities. “First and foremost, it is very important for me to make a clear distinction. On the one hand, there are peaceful student protests; on the other, there is a broad extremist milieu prepared to resort to violence, which could exploit these demonstrations to incite violence,” the spokesperson clarified, referring to the youth demonstrations announced in the wake of the protests in France. “The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (the domestic intelligence service – ed.), for example, is also stepping up its monitoring of relevant websites and social media channels, where calls for violent protests or unrest might be disseminated,” he explained. “Should the need arise, the Federal Police will, as usual, support the police forces of the Länder in the context of administrative assistance, for example with units specialising in evidence gathering and arrests,” he added. “A further task of the Federal Police is, of course, to turn back at the border any individuals who may be intending to enter Germany to take part in violent unrest, thereby preventing them from entering the country,” the spokesperson emphasised. When asked about the number of demonstrators expected, he clarified: “I cannot provide specific figures, but the situation is being monitored constantly and threat assessments are being updated continuously.”