BERLIN, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) called for a greater centralization and general improvement of Germany's anti-terror efforts on Friday.
Stefan Harbarth (CDU), vice-president of the CDU/CSU joint parliamentary faction told the newspaper "Rhein Neckar Zeitung" that German federalism had reached its "limits" in the fight against terrorism.
Harbarth responded to the presentation of a final report on the failings of authorities to recognise the threat posed by Anis Amri.
Amri drove a truck into a busy Berlin Christmas market in December 2016, killing 12 and injuring dozens of people. The Tunisian national was known to German authorities as a drug-dealer and had been previously arrested on several occasions.
Bruno Jost, special investigator at the Berlin Senate, had concluded in his report that Amri could have been arrested with a "high probability" in the summer or fall of 2016. A series of mistakes made by the federal and regional police had allowed Amri to escape custody and commit his act of terrorism.
Federal authorities needed to be strengthened in their pursuit of terrorist suspects, the CDU politician consequently argued. Harbarth proposed hiring additional staff at the Federal Criminal Police Office and Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution towards this end.
Stephan Mayer (CSU), interior speaker of the CDU/CSU faction, went even further on Friday, demanding better nationwide surveillance of terror suspects. All levels of government had "do their homework", he told the newspaper "Passauer Neue Presse".
According to Mayer, "top terror suspects" such as Amri, required 24/7 surveillance by police and judicial authorities.
