Reports indicate dozens of Islamist extremists have joined the German military to gain training they could later apply to carry out attacks.
The military is looking to boost security to better spot potential extremists, newspaper Welt am Sonntag reports in an article published Sunday. A law change, where every recruit will have to go through a background check prior to enlisting, is expected to pass this week and go into effect in July 2017.
Germany’s military counter-intelligence agency is investigating 64 suspected Islamists, 268 suspected right-wing extremists and six left-wing extremists currently in the armed forces, according to Welt.
Welt cites draft documents where investigators suspect Islamist terror cells actively try to get its “short-term servicemen” into military training. The goal is to later “use the skills acquired in the army” for attacks in Germany and abroad.
The reports come during a time when Germany is battling a new terror threat domestically. Several attacks during the summer put the country on high alert, and politicians have called for new measures. A number of state interior ministers proposed a crackdown on dual citizenships and easier deportations of foreign criminals in August. (RELATED: German Conservatives Want Burqa Ban To Fight Terrorism)
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