The terror threat in Germany remains high three months after the attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, but authorities feel more confident in their ability to prevent further tragedy.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) warned Wednesday that another attack could happen. Islamic State has increased its presence and made Germany a priority target in Europe. (RELATED: Germany Reports Dramatic Increase In Islamic Extremism)
“We continue to have a high threat level in Germany,” BfV President Hans-Georg Maassen said at a press conference Wednesday, according to Die Welt. “Over the course of 2016, Germany has become significantly higher rated for ISIS.”
A hotline for Islamist terrorism received 1,100 calls in 2016 — more than a doubling compared to the record set in 2015. Maassen said the information is getting more specific, and every single lede is investigated by authorities.
“We are seeing a qualitative change in the type of information we’re getting,” he said. “Each individual case is examined closely.”
Recent developments in Turkey are also of great concern for German authorities. Germany is home to 4 million Turks and Maasen warned that proxy conflicts may escalate between members of the Kurdish PKK and Turkish right-wing extremists.
“The fault lines between the different camps in Turkey are reflected one to one here in Germany,” Maassen said.
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