BERLIN – German officials vowed tighter security and called for tougher controls of asylum-seekers Tuesday in the aftermath of four attacks in the country in the span of a week, two of which were claimed by the Islamic State extremist group. A 27-year-old man identified as a Syrian refugee blew himself up near the entrance to the music festival, injuring 15 others.
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Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann said a video had been found of Daleel announcing a “revenge” attack against Germany and pledging allegiance to the leader of IS.
Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said Monday that Germany’s justice system is strong and that security would be tightened in public spaces via increased police presence. (He was also reportedly known to police for attempting suicide in the past.) The man was facing a deportation order to return to Bulgaria, the European Union country where he first registered, since he can’t be sent back to war-torn Syria.
In a single week, a total of four attacks in Germany – three by recent immigrants and two claimed by the Islamic State – has shaken a citizenry anxious about recurring massacres in France and has resurrected concerns about the country’s ability to deal with the more than 1 million immigrants allowed into the country a year ago amid unrest in the Middle East. Authorities say Sonboly spent a year planning the mass shooting and had no links to the Islamic State.
Just days before, nine people were shot and killed by 18-year-old Ali David Sonboly.
The extent of the damage is still visible on Monday afternoon, after the police investigators left: a bench in a wine tavern is dotted with glasses half-filled with wine and empty beer bottles, and the attacker’s body is outlined with chalk on the floor, surrounded by dried splattered blood, splintered wood and glass. German authorities could not immediately be reached to confirm whether the video was the same.
No one other than the bomber was killed in the attack, attended by some 2,000 people.
Police were still assessing possible motives behind the late Sunday bloodshed and whether the 27-year-old Syrian had any links to Islamist terror groups.
Roman Fertinger, the deputy police chief in nearby Nueremberg, said it was likely there would have been more casualties if the man had managed to enter the concert venue.
Herrmann told Reuters the recent attacks raised serious questions about Germany’s asylum law and security nationwide.
The Ansbach attacker reportedly had initially applied for and received asylum in Bulgaria, but made a decision to attack Germany out of revenge for having his asylum application rejected.
Germany had tried to deport him to Bulgaria, where his asylum application had been approved, said De Maiziere.
Police said the Syrian man meant to target the open-air festival attended by 2,500 people but was turned away as he did not have a ticket, and detonated the device outside a nearby cafe.
The two teens, both loners who played a lot of first-person shooter games, had met while receiving inpatient psychiatric care last summer and had exchanged messages discussing their fantasies of going on rampages, officials said.
Police have also arrested a 16-year-old Afghan friend in connection with the shooting.
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On Sunday another Syrian refugee killed a woman with a machete in neighbouring Baden-Württemberg.
