German police to increase protection for leading politicians

The national election is scheduled for September 28 next year

Bodyguards in Germany take away a man who allegedly carried out an attack with red paint at an election campaign event organized by the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in Erfurt, Germany in August (Martin Schutt/dpa via AP)

A German police office that provides security for leading politicians says it plans to increase the number of bodyguards significantly over the coming years, citing growing dangers at home and abroad as the next national election nears.

The head of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Holger Munch, said in comments to the RND newspaper group published on Tuesday that his office currently has more than 500 bodyguards. He was quoted as saying that it plans to add 100 next year and another 100 after that.