Germany okays plan to nix extremists' ID cards

Germany’s cabinet approves a plan to allow authorities to withdraw identity cards from Islamic extremists and prevent them from traveling to Iraq, Syria or other crisis areas to join terrorist groups.

The plan has been in the works since October and requires parliamentary approval. It allows authorities to withdraw plastic national identity cards for up to three years. Those affected will get a replacement temporary identity card stating in several languages that the holder is not entitled to leave Germany.

It’s already possible to withdraw passports but officials lacked authority to withhold the identity cards that Germans use to travel to many countries in and beyond the European Union.

Authorities say some 550 people from Germany have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join extremist groups.

— AP