Monday 23 / December / 2024
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to hold a rally in Magdeburg on Monday evening.
The party's chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, and several state AfD politicians are expected to attend the gathering at the city's Domplatz, followed by a march.
In an invitation to the event, the AfD claimed that the recent attack on Sunday highlights the dangers of Germany's immigration policy.
On Saturday scuffles broke out at a far-right rally in the city, billed as a "demonstration against terror" and attended by more than 2,000 people.
Protesters held up a large banner bearing the word "remigration", a term popular with anti-immigration extremists seeking the mass deportation of migrants. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has urged the swift adoption of draft laws to bolster internal security.
The deadly attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg has raised questions about public safety and intelligence gaps in Germany.
"We must do everything in our power to protect the people of Germany from such horrific acts of violence. Our security authorities need all the necessary powers and additional personnel to achieve this," Faeser told Der Spiegel.
Following the Solingen knife attack earlier this year, gun laws were tightened, and the powers of security authorities were strengthened.
Faeser, however, said further legislative changes have been blocked by her Social Democratic Party (SPD) party's former governing coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP), and the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) and its sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) known as the "Union."
"All of these bills could be passed immediately if the Union and FDP did not refuse to do so," she said.
This include the new Federal Police Act, designed to strengthen the federal police, and the introduction of biometric surveillance.
FDP General Secretary Marco Buschmann cautioned against hasty actions.
"Our task is to support the victims and their families. Competing for symbolic measures would not do justice to the terrible situation," he told Der Spiegel.
Germany will hold a federal election in February. Domestic security is likely to be an important issue in the campaign.
Bernd Baumann, the parliamentary head of the far-right AfD, called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to convene a special session of the Bundestag regarding the "desolate" security situation, stating that "this is the least we owe to the victims."
Meanwhile, the head of the far-left BSW party, Sahra Wagenknecht, demanded that Interior Minister Nancy Faeser explain "why so many tips and warnings were ignored beforehand."
The CDU, and the FDP called for enhancements to Germany's security apparatus, including improved coordination between federal and state authorities.Lawmakers to question intelligence agencies
Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the heads of Germany's domestic and foreign intelligence services are due to answer questions about the Magdeburg attack at a parliamentary committee next week, a senior lawmaker said.
Dirk Wiese, a member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, told the AFP news agency, the BfV, BND, and the Office for Migration and Refugees have been called to a hearing on December 30.
There are unanswered questions about what the authorities knew about the perpetrator before Friday's attack.
Germany's Federal Criminal Police (BKA) President Holger Münch told public broadcaster ZDF the man had various contacts with authorities, during which he made insults and sometimes threats, but he was not known to be violent.
Münch described him as an "atypical perpetrator."
Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees also acknowledged Sunday it had received a warning about the suspect last year.
Police detain man who threatened Bremerhaven's Christmas market
A man who threatened severe criminal acts at Bremerhaven's Christmas market in a TikTok video was detained on Sunday night, police said.
Police in the German port city "very quickly" identified the suspect after the video was posted and took him into custody.
There are no details about the suspect or the specific threats made.
Police said there was no danger to the public.
Security forces around Germany have tightened security at Christmas markets to prevent copycat events.
Lawmakers to question intelligence agencies
Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the heads of Germany's domestic and foreign intelligence services are due to answer questions about the Magdeburg attack at a parliamentary committee next week, a senior lawmaker said.
Dirk Wiese, a member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, told the AFP news agency, the BfV, BND, and the Office for Migration and Refugees have been called to a hearing on December 30.
There are unanswered questions about what the authorities knew about the perpetrator before Friday's attack.
Germany's Federal Criminal Police (BKA) President Holger Münch told public broadcaster ZDF the man had various contacts with authorities, during which he made insults and sometimes threats, but he was not known to be violent.
Münch described him as an "atypical perpetrator."
Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees also acknowledged Sunday it had received a warning about the suspect last year.
