Germany Closes Reichstag Dome to Tourists Amid Heightened Terrorism Alert

[Turborama]

Source: Bloomberg

The German parliament closed the glass dome atop Berlin’s Reichstag to visitors amid a security alert as police brace for a possible terrorist attack.

The dome, which contains a spiral walkway from which tourists have a panoramic view of the German capital, will be closed until further notice, parliament said in a statement on its website today. The 116-year-old Reichstag building houses Germany’s lower house of parliament, or Bundestag.

German authorities on Nov. 17 announced increased security at airports and railway stations after receiving “concrete indications” that Islamist extremists plan to stage an attack in Germany toward the end of this month. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere warned of a “new threat level” after receiving intelligence from an unidentified foreign ally and gathering evidence domestically from Islamist groups.

Part of the intelligence came from a source tied to an extremist group who wanted to return to Germany, Der Spiegel magazine reported yesterday. Plans by Pakistan-based groups associated with al-Qaeda may include bomb attacks and a possible armed raid on the Reichstag, Spiegel said.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-22/germany-closes-reichstag-dome-to-tourists-amid-heightened-terrorism-alert.html

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The Speigel article from Sunday (in German): http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,730191,00.html

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Fears of a Mumbai Redux: The Story Behind Germany's Terror Threat

11/22/2010
By Matthias Bartsch, Yassin Musharbash and Holger Stark

Germany is currently in a state of high alert. Security officials are warning that they have concrete information pointing to a possible terror attack on the federal parliament building in Berlin, a massively popular tourist attraction. The days of Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière's reserved stances in dealing with such warnings appear to be over.

The call came from abroad, and the man speaking hurriedly on the other end of the line sounded as if he feared for his life. He wanted out, he told the officers of the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) -- out of the terrorist scene. He wanted to come back to Germany, back to his family. Then he asked if German officials could help him.

Right now, they're trying to do just that. The apparently remorseful man could be an important possible whistleblower from a dangerous region of the globe. In fact, he is also the most recent reason why German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière put the entire country in a state of fright on Wednesday.

During a hastily called press conference that day, de Maizière announced the case the BKA is pursuing under the codename "Nova." According to official information, he stated, possible terror attacks might be launched against Germany in November. As he put it, Germany is "presently dealing with a new situation."

The full 3 part article can be read here: http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,730377,00.html

[MissHoneychurch]

1. A lot about that in the German news at the moment

but what can you do? Hide? Go on life as usual?

[rasputin1952]

3. When I was stationed in Germany, there were worries...

that the Beider-Meinhof group was still running around and creating havoc. The German police and their undercover operations are incredibly efficient, and they get a huge amount of intelligence from all over the globe. Thing of it was though, (this goes back to 1979), Germany was still split in two but in the West, things went on as if nothing was really wrong, there was no great "fear" that the people would be targeted, the mindset was, if the government can't do anything at the moment, they will eventually deal with the "gang" and that will be that...there was no "panic" like there is over here. I'm in Nebraska, rural Nebraska, and after 9-11, I kid you not, some farmer shot at a plastic bad in a cornfield thinking it was a turban atop a terrorist. The round went through the window of a car driving on a road about a half mile away. The farmer was arrested and charged w/reckless endangerment. My point is, people here go into "terror mode" after being fed a steady diet of fear...that's not the case in Europe, Germany specifically. Over the years, you's think Israel and Ireland would be in constant "fear mode", they've learned to adapt...something we should take into account when we deal w/this stuff.

[MissHoneychurch]

4. You see more police these days

but there is no "fear mode" among the people. And I live in Frankfurt, which is one of the supposed targets. But there is nothing one can do as a citizen anyway.

[rasputin1952]

6. I was stationed in Wiesbaden...

loved every minute being there, best duty I ever had.

Went to Frankfurt several times, beautiful city. One great thing about Wiesbaden is that it was basically left out of the war and was essentially untouched during the war. Mainz on the other hand was nearly leveled, odd because it is just across the Rhine and I'd figure they'd both be targets.

I'd like to back someday, doubt I'll have the chance though...:(

[Frustratedlady]

2. I wonder if this could also be the reason they are being so thorough

at the airports in the US? For some reason, it doesn't seem to be just the new machines/procedure, but a more focused effort not to let anyone pass that might have even a hint of danger.

If I were flying during the holidays (or at anytime, for that matter), I would darned well want everyone checked. They are getting too clever.

[rasputin1952]

5. It won't be too long before someone shoves 3#'s of C4 into

their rectum...:(

The people that would do this simply learn and adapt. The mindset that opens one up to be a terrorist must be addressed, and it cannot be dealt with from outside the society where these individuals come from...just as we've been indoctrinated to be in a constant state of fear, they have been indoctrinated to deliver the means to create that fear.

Different cultures produce different results when it comes to this stuff. Personally, if some one came to me and said whatever they say that makes these self destructive acts a reality, I'd ask, "if it's so great and you are instantly going to heaven for great joy...why don't you blow yourself up?" I've always been amazed that this question hasn't been asked time and time again...:shrug:

[Frustratedlady]

10. I've always wondered the same thing. My other question is...

where did they find 47 virgins for each one of these kooks in this day and age.

Just sayin'.

[rasputin1952]

11. Oh crap! it's only 47!?!...

I thought it was 70+...:D

There was a cartoon years ago that had some suicide bomber getting into heaven to claim his "prize" and seeing a host of distinctly "homely" virgins, bemoans himself for the ordeal he just put himself through...:D Especially when one notices there is a camel and a mule in the mix...:rofl:

[Frustratedlady]

12. Good one!

[liberal N proud]

7. The terrorist are wining

They have filled people full of terror and driving governments to take freedom away from the people one step at a time.

Every time these animals put out a little "chatter," the world goes nuts and shuts down one more thing, steps up the intrusiveness of airport security and drives more fear into peoples minds.

They are winning this battle.

[awoke_in_2003]

8. "They are winning this battle."

yes, they are. they have us cowering in the corner like beaten animals

[and-justice-for-all]

9. Exactly...nt