“Islamist Threats on the Rise in Germany: New Figures and Recent Arrests”

Just a few days ago, investigators from the Federal Criminal Police Office arrested young men for a planned bomb attack in Hamburg. Meanwhile, the officials of the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office are investigating the 26-year-old suspect in Duisburg, who attacked people with a knife in a gym. He may have an Islamist motive.

New figures on Islamist threats in Germany

The Federal Criminal Police Office is currently investigating more than 1000 cases in the field of politically motivated crime. This also includes acts committed because of religious ideology. This is reported by the “Bild” newspaper and relies on information from the Federal Criminal Police Office. Accordingly, the willingness to attack by Islamist terrorist groups in Germany has increased again.

According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, there are currently 501 Islamist threats and 499 so-called “relevant persons” as supporters in Germany. According to information from a police investigator, 89 people who were at risk and 22 who supported them had already been arrested. 200 other threats are currently abroad, mostly in Iraq, Syria or Turkey.

Nancy Faeser: “Security authorities strike quickly and consistently”

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the newspaper that Germany’s security agencies are “acting swiftly and consistently” to protect Germany from Islamist threats. “After the case in Castrop-Rauxel at the beginning of January, we were able to prevent the second suspected Islamist attack this year in Hamburg,” explains the SPD politician to “Bild”. It has proven itself that “all threads come together in the counter-terrorism center”.

The IS offshoot “Province Khorasan” in particular is currently considered one of the most dangerous terrorist groups that could trigger a new wave of attacks. Radicalized Islamists in Europe are to be recruited via Telegram in order to manufacture explosive devices. Among other things, the terrorist group is targeting a mosque in Berlin, which they believe is too liberal.

“The Islamist danger is still there,” North Rhine-Westphalian Interior Minister Herbert Reul told the “Bild”. “Unfortunately, perpetrators who fly under the radar are the most dangerous.” The CDU politician views hidden radicalization, which is coupled with a high level of violence, with enormous concern.