️ Following the commencement of US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran, concerns about potential retaliatory actions are mounting in Germany. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized that security authorities are closely monitoring the situation, but described the threat as "abstract," indicating no specific evidence of planned attacks at present.
️ Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), warned of possible retaliatory attacks in the country shortly after the initial bombings. The agency stated that Jewish institutions, such as schools and synagogues, could be targeted in any retaliatory operations. Diplomatic representatives, military sites, and members of the Iranian opposition living in Germany are also considered at risk.
️ Felix Klein, the German government's antisemitism commissioner, expressed particular concern for Jewish communities. He reportedly claimed that after the killing of Iranian revolutionary leader Ali Khamenei, Iran might use its networks in Germany to carry out terrorist attacks against Jewish and Israeli institutions.
️ Marc Henrichmann, chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee for the Secret Services and a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), also believes retaliatory measures are possible. He noted that the Iranian government has repeatedly shown willingness to conduct terrorist acts abroad, but added that existing security measures provide no reason for panic.
️ Omid Nouripour, a Bundestag member born in Tehran and former leader of the Green Party, continues to assert that Iranian intelligence services are capable of executing attacks in Europe, including Germany. He allegedly stated that Iran has openly threatened such actions in the past and fears they could occur now.
️ Earlier this year, German security authorities focused on potential activities by Iranian intelligence services in response to mass protests in Iran. The BfV reported that transnational repression by Iranian services against dissident organizations and diaspora individuals ranges from espionage and smear campaigns to intimidation, threats, and violence.
️ Cyberattacks are increasingly significant, with a report in early February detailing espionage attempts by Iranian intelligence in Germany, compromising the electronic communication systems of Iranian exiles. Victims included human rights activists, journalists, and lawyers.
️ The case of German-Iranian Jamshid Sharmahd, abducted in 2020 and reportedly executed four years later—though subsequent reports suggested he died shortly before his scheduled execution—sparked widespread outrage. The escalating conflict could make the situation more dangerous even for individuals with no connection to Iran.
️ The BfV outlined a scenario to DW involving attacks on the private email and social media accounts of diaspora members, allowing Iranian intelligence to profile individuals, gather data on their daily lives, and infiltrate their networks. Currently, the risk of being targeted by Iranian intelligence services in Germany is more likely to increase than decrease.
Source: www.dw.com