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- Thousands joined vigils to show solidarity with the victims of the right-wing extremist attack at a shisha bar and cafe in the city of Hanau
- Separately, 12 men were arrested across Germany a week ago on suspicion of planning attacks on mosques
BERLIN: German ministers promised on Friday to ramp up security and put more police on the streets to quell public fears, two days after a racist gunman killed nine people.
Thousands joined vigils on Thursday night to show solidarity with the victims of the right-wing extremist attack at a shisha bar and cafe in the city of Hanau, which sparked debates over gun laws and protection of migrants and minorities.
Announcing an 鈥渋ncreased police presence鈥� at mosques, train stations, airports and borders, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said right-wing extremism was the 鈥渂iggest security threat facing Germany.鈥�
He said it had left 鈥渁 trail of blood鈥� in recent months 鈥� two died in an attack on a synagogue in the city of Halle in October and a pro-migrant politician was murdered at his home in June.
Separately, 12 men were arrested across Germany a week ago on suspicion of planning attacks on mosques aimed at bringing about 鈥渁 civil-war-like situation鈥� in Germany.
Seehofer insisted that 鈥渋n this government... no-one is blind鈥� to the threat from the extreme right.
He and justice minister Christine Lambrecht highlighted that Germany has updated its law on firearms licensing in recent weeks and a new bill targeting online hate speech is being considered.
In December, Seehofer also announced hundreds of new posts for federal police and security services to strengthen surveillance of the far-right scene.
But he warned that 鈥渄espite all our efforts, we cannot completely rule out such terrible crimes.鈥�
Federal police chief Holger Muench said 鈥渁round half鈥� of those who carry out attacks with extreme-right motivations were previously unknown to his officers.
Suspects in both the Halle synagogue attack and the Hanau shootings appear to have been radicalized largely online, publishing racist screeds only shortly before their attacks.
鈥淭he problem is perpetrators who act almost without any structure behind them, practically with only an Internet connection... how can potential perpetrators be identified, that鈥檚 the big challenge,鈥� Muench said.
Such people were 鈥渢ime bombs,鈥� justice minister Lambrecht said.
King鈥檚 College London counter-terror expert Peter Neumann told Die Welt daily that 鈥渨hat is already happening regarding jihadism must happen regarding right-wing extremism.鈥�
鈥淪ecurity services should infiltrate and surveil forums鈥� where people with far-right leanings gather, he said.
The Hanau shooter legally owned firearms, dragging Germany鈥檚 gun licensing laws into the focus of public debate.
People demonstrating Thursday night at Berlin鈥檚 Brandenburg gate held signs calling to 鈥渄isarm fascists.鈥�
There are thought to be around 5.4 million weapons in circulation in Germany, according to Bild newspaper.
Increasing numbers of guns are being seized from radical-right suspects, mounting to 1,091 in 2018 compared with 676 the previous year.
Even members of the Chancellor Angela Merkel鈥檚 conservative CDU party have argued for tougher controls, in a country where hunting and sport shooting remain popular pastimes.
The role far-right political party AfD, in parliament since 2017, has also come under scrutiny 鈥� some arguing that they provide the ideological foundations for extremists.
The anti-immigrant outfit, whose leaders denounce Germany鈥檚 culture of remembrance for Nazi crimes, should be 鈥減laced under surveillance鈥� by security services, Social Democratic Party (SPD) secretary general Lars Klingbeil said.
鈥淥ne man opened fire in Hanau, but there were many who provided him with ammunition,鈥� Klingbeil told public broadcaster ARD.