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Konstantin Kuhle, deputy parliamentary group leader of the FDP: “Neither the investigative authorities nor the media operate in Russia free of massive political interference.”

Photo: Moritz Frankenberg/dpa

Not all details about the terrorist attack in Moscow have been clarified yet. However, German politicians from Ampel and Union also assess the threat posed by Islamist terror to Germany as serious. »If an Islamist background to the attack in Moscow proves to be true, it will show that the global threat posed by Islamist terrorism remains great. This also applies to the Federal Republic of Germany,” said the deputy parliamentary group leader of the FDP Konstantin Kuhle to SPIEGEL.

So far, 133 people have died in the attack on Moscow on Friday. The “Islamic State” claimed responsibility for the attack on the Crocus concert hall in Moscow, as always through its Amaq “news agency”. According to the New York Times, the US secret services attribute the attack to the IS-K offshoot. However, many details are still unclear. After several devastating attacks by the terrorist organization shook Paris, Brussels and other cities in 2015 and 2016, the decline of “IS” began. A variety of groups now operate under the name. According to several politicians, not much has changed for Germany.

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»In truth, from the perspective of the German security authorities, there has been no all-clear regarding the terrorist threat posed by Islamist terror for years. It is still very high,” says domestic politician Sebastian Fiedler to SPIEGEL. "The good news: Our security authorities are aware of this danger and they work every day to counteract terrorist threats." This preparation by the security authorities played a major role, especially in the run-up to major sporting events such as the European Football Championship and the Olympic Games. “We should therefore all look forward to great sporting events.”

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Irene Mihalic

Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa

The First Parliamentary Managing Director of the Green Party's parliamentary group, Irene Mihalic, states: "The despicable terrorist attack in Moscow rightly reminds us that we in Germany, too, must continuously and as best as possible prepare for potential risks from Islamist terrorists." But she has great confidence in the security authorities, who needed full political and financial support. "The danger is real, even with a view to upcoming major events."

News from Russia “take it with caution”

But before addressing a possible threat, the initial situation must be clarified, says FDP politician Kuhle. »It is also in Germany's interest that the background to this crime is clarified as quickly and comprehensively as possible. At the same time, any news from authoritarian Russia should be viewed with caution," says Kuhle. “Neither the investigative authorities nor the media operate in Russia free from massive political interference.” Germans should “carefully examine” news from Russia, especially on social media.

It is essential “to have an international early warning system when combating Islamist terror,” said Kuhle. However, this has recently proven to be ineffective in cooperation with Russia: the USA said it had warned Russia of an attack - but Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin scornfully discredited the warning. "If an Islamist background to the attack in Moscow turns out to be true, this would also be evidence that such security cooperation with dictatorships is more difficult than with liberal democracies," Kuhle commented, referring to this fact. In a dictatorship, there is "always the danger that a dictator like the Russian ruler Putin will exploit the terrorist threat for his own purposes instead of pursuing it soberly."

The Union faction also sees Germany as threatened. »If the authorship of the ISPK is confirmed, this would fit into the picture. “The Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been warning about this IS offshoot for a long time,” said deputy parliamentary group leader Andrea Lindholz. “Moscow may be far away, but no one in Germany should be under any illusions: the danger of Islamist attacks is also real here and has not been higher in a long time since the escalation of the Middle East conflict by Hamas on October 7, 2023,” says Lindholz .

Union calls for a rethink of security concepts

Just a few days ago, the federal prosecutor's office in Gera arrested two ISPK supporters. »They are said to have agreed to carry out an Islamist-motivated attack on the Swedish parliament in Stockholm. In mid-October, an Islamist shot two Swedish football fans in Brussels. However, it is still too early to ask whether the attack in Moscow will have concrete consequences in Germany.

However, the federal government is leaving legal leeway unused in the fight against terrorism. Almost a year and a half ago, the European Court of Justice declared it permissible to store various data to better track and combat terrorism. »But the traffic light is also arguing here, and it also relies on information from abroad. That is irresponsible.” Internal security must be fundamentally reconsidered.

In addition, in the event of IS involvement, the federal government should use the attack in Moscow as an opportunity to "review the security concepts of the European Football Championship, which will take place in Germany in less than 100 days."