Germany Announces Temporary Controls on All Land Borders

Berlin tightens security amid 'serious' terrorism threat

Germany has introduced temporary controls on all of its land borders with neighboring countries in an effort to tackle a "serious" terrorism threat, the interior ministry has said. The move will see police and customs officers carrying out checks on vehicles and people entering the country.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said the threat level in Germany was "high"

The controls, which came into effect at midnight on Sunday, will be in place for an initial period of six months. They will be carried out at all land border crossings with Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said the threat level in Germany was "high" and that the controls were necessary to protect the country from terrorism. He said there was "a serious threat from Islamist terrorism" and that the controls would help to prevent "potential attackers" from entering the country.

The move has been welcomed by some security experts, who say it is a necessary step to protect Germany from terrorism. However, others have expressed concern that the controls could disrupt trade and travel.

The German government has said that the controls will be proportionate

The German government has said that the controls will be proportionate and will not affect the movement of goods or people across the border. It has also said that the controls will be reviewed after six months to assess their effectiveness.

The introduction of the controls comes at a time of heightened security concerns in Europe following a number of terrorist attacks in recent months. In December, a lorry ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people. In March, a suicide bomber killed 32 people at Brussels airport.

Germany is not the only country to introduce border controls in recent months

Germany is not the only country to introduce border controls in recent months. In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015, France introduced temporary border controls which are still in place. Austria has also introduced border controls on its border with Italy.

The introduction of border controls is a controversial issue. Some argue that they are necessary to protect national security, while others argue that they are a violation of the free movement of people and goods within the European Union.