(de-news.net) – Following the attack in Magdeburg, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) has called for the urgent passage of pending internal security legislation. She emphasized the necessity for thorough investigations to comprehend the perpetrator and the motives behind the attack. Faeser underscored the importance of equipping security agencies with all necessary powers and additional personnel to safeguard citizens from such violent acts.
In the aftermath of the Islamist attack in Solingen, the government had already tightened gun laws and enhanced the powers of security agencies. However, further legislative changes have been primarily obstructed by the FDP. Faeser highlighted the need for a new Federal Police Act and the introduction of biometric surveillance, which the Union had impeded in the Bundesrat. Faeser has announced additional investigations to determine which agencies had what information on the perpetrator and when. The Interior Committee and the Parliamentary Control Panel will discuss the events on December 30. Faeser assured thorough clarification of all background information, with the Federal Criminal Police Office supporting the investigations.
The Union faction is pushing for a special session of the Interior Committee before New Year’s Eve, due to potential security apparatus failures. The Parliamentary Control Panel will convene on the same day.
On their part, The Greens demand clarity on how security agencies handled information on the perpetrator’s background. They emphasized the need for full political backing for security agencies to thoroughly investigate the attack.
Meanwhile, the CDU has also advocated for stricter measures for internal security and migration policy following the Magdeburg attack. Thorsten Frei, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Union faction, criticized the traffic light coalition for eroding trust in security forces and called for advancements in data retention and border rejections to curb irregular migration.
FDP faction vice-chairman Konstantin Kuhle called for a proactive discourse on security, emphasizing the need to reorganize the overlapping responsibilities of various security agencies. He also championed a new intelligence law to provide clear legal foundations for early action against threats and better physical protection for events like Christmas markets.
In turn, the Police Union has criticized the lack of information exchange between authorities following the Magdeburg attack. Chairman Jochen Kopelke noted that many agencies had the perpetrator in their sights beforehand but failed to take necessary actions, partly due to stringent data protection laws. He urged politicians to discuss necessary consequences post-mourning, including faster and standardized dissemination of foreign security alerts to all agencies.
The perpetrator, now in custody, faces charges of five counts of murder and multiple attempted murders. Magdeburg continues to mourn the victims – five dead and 200 injured -, with many people paying respects at the Johanniskirche in the old town.
