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Special Unit to Fight Drone Terror Threats in Germany | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel lays flowers at the Christmas market in Berlin, December 20, 2016, one day after a truck plowed into the crowded market in the German capital. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke


Cologne (Germany) – The spokesperson of the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany has affirmed that a central unit specialized in confronting possible terrorist attacks through drones has been established.

The spokesperson told a newspaper that the unit’s mission is to coordinate between the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany and the police of states, and to exchange expertise with economic and scientific research in order to agree on the best means to fight terrorism risks by drones.

He said that the risk of terrorism has not subsided, adding that 1,600 extremists were designated as “dangerous” not to mention that the number of extremists willing to practice violence in Germany has reached 10,000.

In remarks to Die Welt newspaper, police sources did not rule out the use of drones by terrorists in operations targeting the public.

The sources talked about parts of a video filmed in liberated areas of the Iraqi city of Mosul, showing ISIS militants in possession of huge drones capable of carrying heavy bombs.

Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany spokesperson said that terrorists could possibly use small drones in attacks that aim at intimidating people or information gathering.

Government sources say that more than 400,000 small electronic drones are flying in German skies and risking the security of airports and individuals. For this, the government has approved bills and taken necessary measures to ensure the safety of the skies.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government has approved a proposal by Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Alexander Dobrindt that underlines the importance of issuing licenses for drone owners similar to driving licenses.