German plans to prevent terrorists expected

The German interior minister is expected to announce new anti-terror measures, following recent attacks linked to Islamist militants. Thomas de Maiziere is likely to call for swifter deportation of criminals, greater use of video surveillance, ban public wearing of the burka and ban radical Islamist funding of mosques. de Maiziere is also expected to gain support for creating 15,000 more police posts nationwide and for improving police weapons and other equipment to deal with the terror threat. This follows events in July which saw a gunman kill nine people in a Munich shopping mall and a bomber who killed himself and wounded 15 others at a music festival in Ansbach. Burka bans, controversial in the UK, exist in other parts of Europe, notably France, Belgium and some towns in Italy. At present, few dress restrictions exist in Germany, but it is illegal to cover your face in a football stadium. He said: “My proposals are limited to the points that can lead to more security rapidly. Other points will be discussed by the parties. We need a workable consensus in the coalition.”