Posted on 08/21/2006 7:17:57 PM PDT by Mount Athos
The disclosure that a botched plot to bomb two German trains last month involved a 21-year-old Lebanese man has punctured the sense of immunity many Germans felt from the Islamic terrorist attacks that have haunted other European countries.
The bombing plot, which has led to the arrest of the Lebanese suspect in northern Germany and an intense manhunt for a second suspect, is also reshaping a politically charged debate in Berlin over how much latitude to give law enforcement authorities in fighting terrorism.
On Monday, Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed her support for expanded use of closed-circuit cameras in train stations and other public places. A camera caught grainy images of two men with suitcases boarding trains in Cologne, and the police arrested one, identified as Youssef Mohammed E. H., on Saturday, a day after they broadcast the footage.
The suitcases, stuffed with propane bombs and left on the trains, failed to explode because of a “technical defect,” according to the German federal prosecutor. That close call has led Germans to rethink their historic reluctance to measures like video surveillance and extensive database searches.
“We haven’t had this serious a threat since 9/11,” said Rolf Tophoven, a prominent terrorism expert. “It’s clear we have people in Germany who are willing to carry out a huge and harmful attack.”
While the extent of the plot is still shrouded in mystery, prosecutors said it was unlikely that the would-be bombers were acting alone. The men may have been motivated by anger over the war in Lebanon, in which the German government has agreed to play a limited, peacekeeping role.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The Islamothugs are crawling all over Germany. Does Atta ring a bell? They better look out.
I guess we can expect Lebanon to kidnap a German to hold for a prisoner swap.
Thats what they do to Israel.
Lebanon and Hizballah are one and the same.
I guess the Islamofascist threats that they were going to destroy the West and make it islamic weren't enough to scare the Germans. Why does it take these things to wake people up?! I hope this happens more and more (without injury). We make not like the fact, but we absolutely need Europe to fight with us in this war.
"duh. where ya been Germany........"
HELLO WORLD! Islam is going to try to take over the entire planet by the sword. They wrote a book about it, and have have shown previews in several countries for years now!
we need to light up their world like the 4th of July. Violence is what they live by and it is what they must die by. They will not repent or change their evil longings.
Now propane bombs, that's real terrorism!
The Germans will get tough and kill these vermin.
The solution is pretty obvious... in fact just using their common sense is all German leaders need. I say no more.
I agree with you.....I think the GERMANS will SOON rise up and obliterate the vermin....in fact, they may lead the way for the rest of the world.....I have nothing to base that on, except for my German heritage.....I just gotta feeling....
Gee the Germans have figured out the appeasement does not work. I guess they just wiped the 30s and 40s right from their collective conscience.
I'm German too - every old German relative I had or any old German I met was tough as nails.
Euros sure are good at rationalizing.
What idiots the NYT joournlists are! This must have been planned well ahead of the Lebanon war/battle.
... otherwise popularly known as "an innocent civilian"...
ping
Good! They better wake up over there! Thanks bitt.
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