Tackling Terror Threats in Germany: 18 Islamist Attacks Averted Since 2010
In an attempt to maintain the peace and security of its population, Germany's law enforcement agencies have managed to thwart a total of 18 Islamist terrorist attacks since 2010. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) shared this information with the public last Tuesday, shedding light on their successful counter-terrorism operations.
18 cases of Islamist-motivated attacks have been successfully prevented
The BKA classified nine of these thwarted attacks as occurring in North Rhine-Westphalia. Among these preventions were plans for explosives and firearms attacks in 2011, 2013, and 2016/2017. In 2018, an attack using ricin in Cologne and preparations for an attack on an individual in 2019/2020 were foiled. In 2021, plans for a firearms attack in Duisburg or the Cologne area and an explosives attack on a synagogue in Hagen were reportedly prevented, and in 2023, plotting an attack on people in Germany using toxic substances such as ricin or cyanide was uncovered.
The BKA's efforts across various German states
In Hesse, a planned explosives attack in the Frankfurt area against a Shiite mosque, police officers, and a nightclub in 2018 was successfully prevented, as well as plans for an explosives and firearms attack in the Offenbach and Frankfurt am Main area in 2019. Hamburg saw two thwarted attacks: a planned explosives and firearms attack in 2021 and the plotting of a suicide attack using an explosive belt in 2023.
Germany's cities weren't spared from this threat, with Saxony, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein, and Berlin all reporting prevented attacks since 2010.
International cooperation in thwarting attacks
A notable 7 of these prevented attacks received significant information from foreign agencies. Federal and state security authorities also received numerous tips about possible Islamist-motivated attacks, which were prevented at an early stage thanks to measures taken by the authorities.
The BKA's warning about the Middle East conflict's impact on Germany's security situation
The BKA has issued a warning regarding the Middle East conflict, stating that the situation could serve as an encouragement for individuals in Germany and Europe to carry out attacks. The BKA is intensely monitoring and analyzing the current situation while coordinating with federal and state security authorities to implement appropriate precautions and security measures.
While the sources analyzed primarily emphasis on the efforts made to combat terror in Europe, the specific statistics around naturized terrorist threat in each German state since 2010 remains scarce. Official reports from German security agencies or Europol offer a more comprehensive view of these statistics, allowing for a more detailed analysis of the progress made in countering terrorism in Germany.
