BERLIN – With Germany stunned by a series of terror attacks, Chancellor Angela Merkel called Thursday for an “early warning system” to detect radicalization among migrants even as she insisted the nation still had a ‘moral duty to offer sanctuary to those fleeing war.’
The welcome-mat policies of Merkel’s government have come under increasing criticism and demands for review. Germany has taken in more than 1.3 million migrants, asylum seekers and others since last year, including many fleeing Syria and elsewhere.
But even some former supporters of the policies have raised questions after four terror attacks in the span of two weeks – including two involving asylum seekers who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
“Fear cannot be the guide for political action,” Merkel said.
“I didn’t say this was a going to be simple. That we could just do it. But I am still convinced that we can do it,” she added. “This is a historic test in a time of globalization.”
Yet she also called for new steps and faster implementation of decisions already made to improve national security. Merkel said she has spoken with President Barack Obama about increasing intelligence cooperation – seeking to improve the lines of communication that have been tested since revelations in 2013 that U.S. intelligence had spied on the chancellor.
She additionally called for the army to begin training under the supervision of German police, so it could respond in the event of major terrorist attacks. In a nation still leery of army involvement in domestic affairs given the Nazi and Cold War era, her proposals are seen as significant.
An editorial published this week by Bayernkurier, the newspaper in Bavaria of Merkel’s sister’s party, the Christian Social Union, blasted her for opening the door to risk.
“The chancellor has subjected us to a security risk with her open borders and arms,” the editorial stated. “Tens of thousands of people of fighting age who haven’t been properly been registered are in our country. Of many of them, the state neither knows their proper name, nor their right age, nor their current place of residence.”
Merkel on Thursday reiterated plans to increase Internet surveillance and hire a consulting firm to examine Germany’s deportation system. She also called for tighter weapons laws to prevent the sale of guns on the Internet.
But she offered few details on new measures, which she said would be discussed in the days and weeks ahead. She said her government would consider new funds for adding police, security personal and equipment.
