Federal Minister Seehofer visits Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre

type:
News

, Topic:
Security

, Date:
12 April 2018

Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer visits the Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre to find out more about the current security situation and the work of the security authorities.

Source:
Henning Schacht

Heads of the security authorities and Federal Minister Seehofer at the GTAZ (Larger version opens in new window)



Source: Henning Schacht

Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer today visited the Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre (GTAZ) in Berlin. He used the occasion to introduce himself as the new interior minister and to get a first-hand look at what the security authorities are doing to fight Islamist terrorism.

He was welcomed by Holger Münch, the president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), and Dr Hans-Georg Maaßen, president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, who briefed him on the current security situation in a closed meeting with the presidents and vice-presidents of the authorities represented at the GTAZ, including the Federal Police, the Federal Intelligence Service, the Military Counter-Intelligence Service, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and the Federal Public Prosecutor.

Security as an important good

Federal Minister Seehofer with the BKA-president, Holger Münch, the president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Dr Hans-Georg Maaßen, and other representatives of the security authorities on their way to their security briefing (Larger version opens in new window)



Source: Henning Schacht

At a press conference following the meeting, the federal minister thanked the staff of the security authorities for their good work. “Since it was founded in 2004, the GTAZ has performed excellent work for the good of our country,” Federal Minister Seehofer said, adding that this work was becoming more, not less, important. He said he was grateful for the quality of their results, which had prevented several terrorist attacks.

The federal minister announced that he wanted to provide the best tools and working conditions for the men and women who strive every day to keep Germany safe, including first of all more staff and resources, but also greater powers. For example, the BKA is to receive a new division devoted exclusively to counter-terrorism.

Federal Minister Seehofer also noted that the threat situation remains serious and that attacks could occur at any time. This is why the security authorities will continue to do all that is humanly possible to prevent attacks, he said. Security is one of the most important goods for people in Germany, he said, and it is essential to continue protecting it. However, there is no such thing as absolute security, and everyone should be aware of that, he said.