German security service wants to expand considerably

The German internal security service BfV wants to expand considerably.

BfV chief Hans-Georg Maassen thinks that the internal security service should be about the same size as the foreign intelligence service BND. The additional people in the domestic service would, among other things, be required to tackle espionage more effectively and to better combat Islamic terrorism.

Maassen is under attack in Germany due to his reaction to recent unrest in Chemnitz in the east of the country. He questioned whether there had been a manhunt on foreigners. He also seemed to question the authenticity of video images of right-wing violence, although he would have argued later that his statements had been misinterpreted.