One woman was killed, 29 people were injured. The suspected perpetrator, Abdul B., was known to authorities – unlike in previous Islamist attacks in Germany, where the perpetrators were usually not registered as threat actors.
The case shows that even a threat actor known to police could carry out an attack – this raises probing questions.
Previously, after Islamist attacks, it was often said that the perpetrator had not been noticed by authorities as a potential terrorist beforehand. This time it is different: Abdul B. was classified as a threat actor. Yet he was able to strike on Saturday at Berlin’s CSD.
Security authorities must improve their work to prevent such acts. It is not enough to know threat actors – one must also be able to effectively monitor them and, if necessary, take them into custody.
The attack shows that the security architecture has gaps. Politics is called upon to close them. More security is possible – that is the lesson from this act of terror.
Source: www.sueddeutsche.de
