"As for the general state of affairs, I emphasized many times before and after the terrorist attacks in Paris that a situation threatening the security has developed in Germany, Europe and the West as a whole," the minister stated at a press briefing.
According to him, the fact that Germany is a "free country" is perceived by extremists as a provocation.
"We have managed so far to save Germany from a large terrorist attack, including by diligence and luck. It happened after we have learned a bitter lesson, we, the special services that have not found that the September 11 attack in the United States was prepared in Germany, in particular," de Maiziere outlined.
Concerns of extremists reaching Europe disguised as refugees resurfaced this week after a Syrian passport has been recovered near the body of one of the November 13 suicide bombers in Paris.
