(18 Jun 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Berlin, Germany – 18 June 2024
1. German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, arriving at news conference
2. Close of summary of 2023 report on the protection of the constitution
3. Faeser holding report
4. Faeser and Thomas Haldenwang, head of the domestic intelligence agency who produced the report, holding copies
5. Various of Faeser and Haldenwang during news conference
6. SOUNDBITE (German) Nancy Faeser, German Interior Minister:
“To summarise, we can say that we must actively defend our democracy. Because our democracy is strong. But it is also under considerable pressure. We must confront internal threats from extremism just as resolutely as external threats, especially from the Russian regime and its massive hybrid threat. The security situation is and remains tense. The brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is still ongoing, continues to call the European peace order into question and the terrible escalation in the Middle East following Hamas’ terror against Israel is unfortunately also having an impact on us. Our security authorities are vigilant and resilient in order to protect our security and our freedom. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is indispensable in this respect. We have massively ramped up all protective measures to arm ourselves against the current threats posed by extremism, terrorism and hybrid threats.”
7. Journalists
8. Wide of news conference
9. SOUNDBITE (German) Nancy Faeser, German Interior Minister:
“Russia, China and Iran in particular use their intelligence services extensively for espionage against Germany. In addition, there are attempts to influence democratic states through propaganda, lies and disinformation and to see or reinforce anger and hatred. There are also ongoing attempts to monitor and persecute members of the opposition living here. Several arrests in mid-April on charges of suspected espionage for China show just how topical the dangers are. In addition, people were arrested who, according to the Federal Public Prosecutor General, had planned sabotage operations in Germany on behalf of the Russian regime in order to undermine our military support for Ukraine. Our security authorities have acted very consistently here and prevented possible explosive attacks in Germany. We will continue to do everything we can to thwart such plans.”
10. Wide of news conference
11. Close of report
12. Cameras
13. SOUNDBITE (German) Thomas Haldenwang, head of the domestic intelligence agency:
“The Office for the Protection of the Constitution does not have much positive news to report on the security situation in Germany for the 2023 reporting year either. Various negative trends that I reported on here last year have been confirmed and continued. We are experiencing an extremely high workload and complex challenges in all of my department’s areas of work. On the other hand, of course, we also regularly achieve sustainable successes in close cooperation with other security authorities.”
14. Wide of news conference room
15. Journalists
16. Journalist typing on laptop
17. SOUNDBITE (German) Thomas Haldenwang, head of the domestic intelligence agency:
18. Journalists
19. Cameraperson reflected in window
20. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE:
German officials said on Tuesday the security situation in the country remained tense, highlighting both external and internal threats from espionage and disinformation to extremism in an annual intelligence report.
AP video shot by: Fanny Brodersen
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/79163bc98a474a5c98651ccefb381102
