Berlin apologizes for security gaps, tightens protection measures

By Ahmed Galal

Germany commemorated the anniversary of the Berlin Christmas market attack last year which claimed the lives of 12 people and injured hundred others.

Marking the first anniversary of that terrorist assault, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the victims’ relatives to express her sympathy and provide her support amid accusations from people that she had not provided sufficient aid to them.

She said in her speech before the gathering that Germany would do its utmost to improve the conditions of the victims and their families. 

In recent years, the security scene has changed in Europe. Police armed with automatic weapons, concrete barriers sealing off areas which host big events, are the dominant features of security position in many European countries’ streets.   

In that respect, think tanker Munch said that people ostensibly sound confident of security measures, but they have deep concerns about the possibility of initiating terror attacks such as those which took place in the recent period.

That is not far from officials ‘worry, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier requested to review security measures against terrorist attacks and the police readiness for any potential assault.

“We will spare no effort to protect the people against any operation targeting innocents. We realized our mistakes and the points of failure,” Steinmeier said in the anniversary to reassure people.

Heiko Maas, the federal minister of justice, apologized to the victims and their relatives for the shortcomings in the fight against terrorism and the failure to ward off this terrorist attack on German soil.