Talking Points: Terrorism in Germany (April 12, 2017)
Talking Points – Germany
Copyright © 2017 – Travel Leaders Group LLC. All rights reserved.
The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients when discussing travel to Germany. (Updated April 12, 2017)
1. While Germany has been the target of a few terrorist attacks over the past year, there is no Travel Alert or Travel Warning advising Americans against traveling to Germany.
2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being.
3. Safety is our top priority for our clients. We provide them with the facts so they can make informed decisions about their travels.
Below you will find additional information, supporting material and statistics to help further illustrate each talking point.
1. While Germany has been the target of a few terrorist attacks over the past year, there is no Travel Alert or Travel Warning advising Americans against traveling to Germany.
On April 11, 2017, multiple explosion damaged the bus carrying the Borussia Dortmund soccer team, and one player was hospitalized due to his injuries.
o According to Deutsche Welle, the police are treating this as a terrorist attack.
o ABC News reports that “police have made one arrest following an incident in which multiple explosions went off near the team bus of Borussia Dortmund, one of Germany’s top soccer clubs, as it set off for a Champions League quarterfinal match on Tuesday evening. One of the team’s players was injured in the attack.”
o FOX News reports that “A person from the ‘Islamist spectrum’ was detained Wednesday in connection with the Borussia Dortmund soccer team bus attack in Germany that injured a player, German prosecutors said. Authorities are focused on another suspected extremist who may also be involved in detonating three explosives on Tuesday, Frauke Koehler, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors, said. A letter turned up near the site claiming responsibility and suggesting a possible Islamic extremist motive for the attack.”
Germany has dealt with other terrorist attacks recently:
o On April 11, 2017, a teenage Syrian refugee was convicted for planning an act of terrorism: “The court found enough evidence that the boy had declared himself willing to carry out an attack in an internet chat with ‘a person close to the ‘Islamic State’ in Israel.’ He also received instructions on how to make a bomb,” according to Deutsche Welle.
o On December 19, 2016, a delivery truck crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, German, killing 12 people and injuring at least 49 others.
The Wall Street Journal reports, “At least 12 people were killed when a semitrailer drove onto the sidewalk near Breitscheidplatz in Charlottenburg, a tony district in West Berlin, at about 8 p.m., a spokeswoman for the Berlin police said. About 50 were injured, police said. Authorities said that they had no immediate information on the motive but that signs pointed to a ‘probable terror attack.’”
o A suicide bomb outside a wine bar in Ansbach injured 15 people on July 24, 2016.
o Also, on July 22, 2016, nine people were killed by a gunman during a shooting incident at the Munich Olympia shopping center.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office does not explicitly warn against travel to Germany, but it does advise the following:
o “There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in public places visited by foreigners. The German government has announced that increased security has been put in place as a precaution at public buildings, major events, transport hubs and large public gatherings.”
The Government of Canada indicates, “There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Germany” and citizens are advised to “exercise normal security precautions.”
According to the 2016 Global Peace Index (GPI), which is compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Germany is the 16th most peaceful country in the world just behind Australia and ahead of Norway.
2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being.
We recommend that U.S. citizens follow the advice of the State Department and register their travel plans at https://step.state.gov. This will help the State Department contact travelers if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or in the event an emergency transpires in the place where the individual is traveling.
o The U.S. State Department also offers a helpful guide called Traveler’s Checklist which provides additional travel tips.
o Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained through the Consular Information Program documents, by downloading the free Smart Traveler iPhone App, following the State Department on Twitter or the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook. Citizens can also call 888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern Time (except U.S. federal holidays).
The updated State Department Travel Alert also provides practical steps American travelers can take:
o “U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places.”
o “Follow the instructions of local authorities, especially in an emergency.”
o “Monitor media and local information sources and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities.”
o “Be prepared for additional security screening and unexpected disruptions.”
o “Stay in touch with your family members and ensure they know how to reach you in the event of an emergency.”
o “Register in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).”
While no one can say with certainty that any destination is 100% safe, we strongly encourage our clients to use care and common sense – no matter where they travel – to maximize their safety and security. For example:
o Leave your itinerary, and passport data page, with a friend or family member back home so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
o Know and respect the laws in the country you are visiting.
o Remain alert to your surroundings at all times. Follow your instincts and avoid any areas or situations that seem as though they could become dangerous.
o Avoid all demonstrations, as even peaceful ones can quickly become unruly and a foreigner could become a target of harassment. If caught unexpectedly near a demonstration, obey instructions from police and leave the area as quickly as possible.
o Do not display expensive looking jewelry, large amounts of money or other valuable items. Also, do not leave luggage unattended in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
o Check with your cell phone provider prior to departure to see if your phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G/4G international networks.
o Check your medical insurance coverage to make sure it applies overseas. If it doesn’t, consider buying travel insurance that covers overseas medical attention and medical evacuation.
3. Safety is our top priority for our clients. We provide them with the facts so they can make informed decisions about their travels.
Our business is founded on repeat customers. Therefore, we want to be sure everything goes off without a hitch.
We provide the facts so our clients can make informed decisions about their travel plans.
We closely monitor the U.S. Department of State website for travel alerts for all destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.
Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there so they can make determine for themselves if they still wish to travel.
We also work closely with respected airlines, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators and other suppliers to remain informed of security precautions they’re taking to guard our clients’ safety.