Germany wants to clamp down on Islamic extremists

Interior minister says government is developing ways to prevent homegrown radicals from leaving or returning to Germany

Germany's interior minister Dr. Thomas de Maiziere during a recent visit to Israel (photo credit: Kobi Gideon/Flash90)
Germany's interior minister Dr. Thomas de Maiziere during a recent visit to Israel (photo credit: Kobi Gideon/Flash90)

BERLIN — Germany’s top security official says the government is working on measures to prevent Islamic extremists from leaving the country to fight in Syria or Iraq by possibly confiscating passports or specially marking identity cards.

Germany estimates at least 400 people have left to join the Islamic State group and similar extremist groups, and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on ZDF television Thursday the government is looking into ways to change current laws to clamp down on them.

Germany and other nations have struggled to prevent radicals from leaving to join extremist groups because there is no way to legally stop them.

But de Maiziere says it’s important to prevent their departure and “more importantly, prevent their re-entry so they won’t attack here. ”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

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