Germany Heightens Security in Response to Terror Threat

It's one of Berlin's top tourist attractions — the Reichstag building, home to the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. But an eerie calm has descended on this key landmark, ever since police closed the famous glass dome and roof terrace to visitors on Monday amid mounting fears of a terrorist attack. That same afternoon, a group of bewildered visitors walked up to the security barriers which now encircle the building and asked a policeman brandishing an automatic weapon if they could go in. "It's shut," grunted the officer. All around the country there are signs of increased security and heightened caution, as Germany tries to protect itself against an attack it's sure is coming.

On Nov. 17, Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière raised the country's terror threat level, saying the authorities had "concrete information" about an attack at the end of the month. Since then, there's been intense speculation in the German media about possible targets. According to a Nov. 20 article in the magazine Der Spiegel, Islamic extremists are planning to attack the Reichstag in a "Mumbai-style" raid. The magazine cited intelligence reports claiming that a jihadist who wanted to defect had told the German authorities that a six-man terror commando was preparing to stage a deadly assault.

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