Die Welt Jan 13, 2007
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany must be on guard against the threat of
terrorist attacks from left-wing extremists as well as Islamic groups during its Group of Eight (G8) presidency, Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Friday.
In an interview to appear in Saturday's Die Welt newspaper, Schaeuble said that it would be dangerous and foolish to underestimate the threat of left-wing attacks, in particular at the G8 summit in June in the Baltic resort of Heiligendamm.
"Based on all the information we have accumulated so far, we will need to take into account not only of the threat of Islamic terror during the G8 but also left-wing extremists," he said.
"That is being analysed and the public is aware of it, but it tends to be neglected," he added, adding left-wing extremist groups appear to be forming networks with other groups such as Basque guerrillas ETA and Colombia's left-wing FARC rebels.
"They're mobilising," he said. "There will be a lot of demonstrators (at Heiligendamm) and many will be coming with the best intentions.
But violent excesses cannot be ruled out."
Schaeuble said he was concerned left-wing attacks were seen as "a noble form of political protest" by some in Germany.
There have been several left-wing attacks in Germany in recent months that police said appeared to be linked to the G8 presidency this year.
On December 27, a car in front of the home of deputy finance minister Thomas Mirow was set on fire while his house's windows and walls were splattered with paint. Police said they had obtained a letter claiming responsibility for the attack.
The three-page letter criticised the planned G8 summit in Heiligendamm.
The letter said Mirow, 53, was singled out because: "He is responsible for coordinating financial policies."
The German office for the protection of the constitution warned in early December of possible attacks from left-wing extremist groups opposed to the policies of the G8, a grouping of industrialised nations that comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.