"Of course, one can increase the presence of police in some places. One can also put fences near the entrances to the markets. These measures are likely to partially scare potential criminals. But to ensure the 100% safety on the Christmas market or any other sites of a big city is impossible," Tophoven told Sputnik.
Commenting on the recent statement of German politician and member of Alternative for Germany party Marcus Pretzell who blamed Merkel for her open-door policy toward refugees saying that she bears responsibility for the attack, Tophoven stated:
"The worst thing we can do now is to enter into a political debate with mutual accusations, linking the immigration policy of the Federal Chancellor with the deaths in Berlin. It will only play into hands of backstage leaders of terrorists."
Wann schlägt der deutsche Rechtsstaat zurück? Wann hört diese verfluchte Heuchelei endlich auf? Es sind Merkels Tote!#Nizza#Berlin
— Marcus Pretzell (@MarcusPretzell) 19 декабря 2016 г.
"When will the German constitutional state undertake retaliatory measures? When will this damned hypocrisy finally been stopped? These are Merkel's deaths!"
A similar point of view was expressed by Bundestag MP Ulla Jelpke. In an interview with Sputnik Germany, she warned against generally suspecting migrants of being able to commit such crimes and stressed that it is necessary to wait for concrete results of the investigation.
At the same time she noted that she wasn't too much surprised about the events that took place in Berlin earlier this week.
"To be honest, I didn't rule out the possibility of such an attack after the events that we have experienced in recent years and the last year, in particular. But, of course, I was shocked," Jelpke told Sputnik.
According to Jelpke, the most important thing now is to improve security at public places, and Christmas markets, in particular.
"Now, of course, we need to react very quickly. I am opposed to closing the Christmas markets, we just need more security," the politician said, adding that the priority task should be strengthening of the police and security services.
The German Interior Ministry considers the deadly Christmas market attack an act of terrorism.
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