Highlights
– Germany’s federal police undergo restructuring, shift focus to combating terrorism
– Schengen borderless area expansion leads to increased concerns over illegal immigration, crime, and terrorism
– Terror threat to Germany remains significant concern
In March 2008, media reports indicated German federal police units were undergoing significant restructuring in a bid to make the organization better equipped to deal with the effects of ongoing Islamist terror concerns within the country, and the region. The move follows several high profile terror cases, recent arrests, and continuous reports Germany faces a significant threat of terrorist attacks in the near-term.
Additionally, the expansion of the European Union (EU) passport check-free Schengen area in December 2007 has led to increased concerns the “open-borders” policy may lead to increased crime, illegal immigration, and terrorism throughout Western Europe. The EU borderless zone expanded to include nine new EU members: Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The inclusion into the Schengen area eliminates border controls on land and sea entry points.
As recently as September 2007, German authorities arrested three individuals suspected of planning to carry out “imminent” and “massive” bomb attacks against a United States military air base and Frankfurt International Airport (Previous Report). As we continue to report, Germany remains at significant risk for Islamist extremism, and specifically terrorist attacks. To this end, despite changes in its internal policing, Germany is increasingly viewed as a key target and staging ground for Islamist extremist terrorism.
German Police Restructure
As freedom of movement within the EU increases, German authorities remain concerned the country is at significant risk of terrorist attacks. In a bid to combat the effects of Islamist based terrorism, German officials are implementing wide-reaching reforms to include the centralization of a nearly 40,000-strong police force under the leadership of Matthias Seeger. Additional reforms to the country’s federal police units include closing several regional field offices and taking a more active approach in countrywide issues such as terrorism and illegal immigration. On March 3, 2008, German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, traveled to Potsdam to welcome Seeger to his new position and promised a streamlined police force would free up personnel to focus specifically on terrorism.
Until now, Germany’s federal police units were charged with guarding the country’s border crossings and overseeing security in airports and train stations. In addition to their express duties, federal units may also be called upon by state governments to provide support during riots or demonstrations and in some cases, training to police officers stationed in Afghanistan.
In the past, centralizing the country’s police forces has faced intense criticism, mainly due to regional government officials’ fear increased centralization will lead to a loss of state influence over domestic security issues, however, despite marginal internal dissent, German officials largely agree the need to deal with it at the national level is crucial to combating terrorism as suspects frequently operate within a global network that cross state and national boundaries.
Schengen Area Expansion is Worrisome
On December 21, 2007, Western Europe’s famed borderless zone, the Schengen area, expanded to include an additional nine new states. Original member countries in the Schengen area included Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and Germany. The inclusion of nine new EU member states was the largest expansion to the passport-free zone. Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic now make up part of the Schengen area, thus contributing to the free movement of EU citizens between a total of 24 countries.
Despite its initial praise, some opponents of the December 2007 expansion highlight increased concerns such as terrorism, crime, and illegal immigration may increase as a result of the larger zone area. Specifically, in January 2008, reports indicated the lifting of border checks along the German-Czech border led to a “dramatic” growth in the number of reported instances of illegal border crossings. According to published statistics, approximately 614 illegal migrants were detained along the German-Czech border areas from December 2007 until January 2008. Experts estimate the actual number of illegal border crossings that go unreported may be ten times higher.
In addition to concerns stemming from illegal immigration, the threat of crime and terrorism continue to cause concern regarding the Schengen area. Specifically, as Islamist based terrorism, and particularly al-Qaeda, becomes increasingly global, borderless free movement zones such as the Schengen area, may be exploited and contribute to the ease of terrorists’ movement within the EU, thus increasing the region’s vulnerability to attacks in the near-term.
Germany Remains Under Threat
As we previously reported, Germany is increasingly viewed as a key target for Islamist extremist terror attacks (Previous Report). Largely perceived as a US ideological supporter and due to its support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations in Afghanistan, Germany is high on the terror target list. To this end, despite significant changes to federal policing, it is unlikely terrorists will cease to target the country. Only time will tell whether Germany’s efforts to restructure its federal police force will lead to a marked difference in the security and stability of the country, however we are hesitant the changes will prove to significantly improve the security within the country.
Additionally, the borderless Schengen area continues to be a concern as it may ultimately contribute to the expansion and freedom of movement of criminals, illegal immigrants, and terrorists alike. This is specifically worrisome as Islamist terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda seek to wage attacks on Europe. As recently as December 1, 2007, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden released a tape directed towards Europeans in which he encouraged Europeans to end their military participation in Iraq and Afghanistan or face dire consequences.
Further, Germany’s ongoing support to US political and military efforts around the globe will likely continue to contribute to its potential targeting among al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda-inspired terrorist organizations.
