German terror alert issued

GERMANY said yesterday it was tightening security at airports and train stations after receiving “concrete” evidence of planned terrorist attacks in the country, including one this month.

“From today, there will be a visible police presence. I thought it should be explained to citizens,” Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere told a hastily called press conference in Berlin. “There will also be a variety of measures that will not be visible. There is reason for concern, but no reason for hysteria.”

Evidence of a potential attack towards the end of the month came from a “foreign partner”, he said. “According to information from a foreign partner which came to us after the Yemen incident, we suspect a planned attack is due to be put into action at the end of November.”

Last month, authorities discovered two US-bound parcel bombs originating from Yemen, one of which went through Cologne airport in western Germany.

“Since the middle of 2010, the security services have noticed increased indications that the terrorist organisation al-Qaida has been planning attacks in the United States, in Europe and in Germany,” he said. “We now have more details and indications of danger... It is the unanimous assessment of the security services that we are currently dealing with a new situation.”

In addition to beefed-up security throughout Germany, there could also be heightened checks on the external borders of the European Schengen visa-free travel zone, the minister said.