Overview
- The cabinet formally presented the Ten‑Point Plan on Wednesday, prioritizing expanded surveillance powers, longer retention of connection data, more frequent use of electronic ankle monitors and higher penalties for knife attacks and terrorism; the government will table the package in the Bundestag next week.
- The measures respond to the July 25 CSD attack in Berlin in which a man already classified as a 'Gefährder' drove into a crowd, used a machete, killed one person and injured dozens before police shot him.
- Investigative reporting and opposition MPs say security and justice agencies had extensive files on the attacker and discussed him repeatedly in the Joint Terrorabwehrzentrum, prompting calls for a transparent inquiry into why monitoring and coordination failed to stop the attack.
- Eight CDU state premiers issued a joint letter publicly backing Chancellor Friedrich Merz, giving him short‑term political breathing space ahead of imminent state elections and stressing the need for a majority government.
- Civil‑society groups and critics contend the plan overemphasizes punitive tools at the expense of prevention, deradicalization funding and concrete protections for queer communities, and they are demanding clarified accountability and binding prevention commitments.