PrintNovember 21, 2010
Warning of terror attack in Berlin
Not known to jump the gun, German authorities appear convinced that al-Qaeda is planning an attack on the Reichstag - the nation's parliament building:
According to information obtained by German security authorities, al-Qaida and associated groups are believed to be planning an attack on the Reichstag building in Berlin, the headquarters of Germany's parliament and also an attraction visited by thousands of tourists every day. As part of the attack, terrorists would seek to take hostages and perpetrate a bloodbath using firearms.The information about the alleged plans came from a jihadist who is currently abroad and has reportedly contacted the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) several times in recent days. The jihadist apparently wants to abandon the group. The information provided by the jihadist informant was apparently the reason behind German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière's decision to hold a press conference on Wednesday warning of an imminent attack in the country.According to the caller, the terror cell is comprised of six people -- two of whom are believed already to have traveled to Berlin six to eight weeks ago, and are now staying in the city. Four other perpetrators -- a German, a Turk, a North African and a further man the jihadist could not identify -- are currently waiting to travel to Germany. The attacks are purportedly being planned for February or March.
Via the US, the Germans also have evidence of another attack being planned:
The second warning backing de Maizière's concerns came from the United States. The US federal police, the FBI, sent a cable to the BKA two weeks ago noting another possible further attack. A Shiite-Indian group known as the "Saif," or sword, is believed to have engaged in a pact with al-Qaida and to have sent two men to Germany to carry out an attack there.
As the French and British have done recently, the Germans decided to release as much info as they possessed on the attacks in order to head them off. They may burn sources as a result of such publicity, but weighed against the potential loss of life, they probably figure it's a good trade off.
Let's hope it's not the Reichstag, but rather the Bundestag. Perhaps Der Spiegel should have referred to it as the Reichstag building which at one time housed the Parliament of the German Empire and was largely destroyed by fire in 1933. It was never used for parliamentary sessions during the 12 years of Nazi rule, and I'm surprised Der Spiegel didn't explain things further to avoid confusion.
