Germany expands border controls to stem illegal migration and risk of extremism

BERLIN — The German government on Monday ordered temporary controls at all land borders in response to illegal migration and to protect the country from threats from extremists.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told a press conference that the government was extending the temporary border controls already in force at some borders to all of Germany’s land borders.

“We are strengthening our internal security through concrete actions and continuing our resolute stance against illegal migration,” Faeser said.

The ministry said it notified the European Union on Monday of an order to establish border controls at land borders with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark for a period of six months. They will begin next week, on September 16.

This is in addition to the restrictions already in force at the land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland.

“Until we achieve strong protection of the EU’s external borders through a new Common European Asylum System, we need to further increase controls at our national borders,” Faeser said.

She noted that since October last year, Germany has recorded more than 30,000 refusals of entry for people seeking to cross the border.

“This served to further curb illegal migration and protect against the serious threats of Islamist terrorism and serious crime. We are doing everything we can to better protect people in our country from this,” she said.

The order was issued after a deadly stabbing in Soligen that left three people dead. The perpetrator was inspired by the Islamic State group.

Last week, Munich police exchanged fire with a gunman near the Israeli consulate, fatally wounding him. Authorities say he planned to attack the consulate on the anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics attack.

Germany has taken in large numbers of refugees from the Middle East over the past decade, but a political backlash is now growing, with support for a far-right party growing. That party, the Alternative for Germany, won its first state election earlier this month in Thuringia.