German police classify 410 people as Islamist threats

Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) currently classifies 410 people as Islamist threats, according to a report by the RND media group published on Tuesday.

The figure, which reflects the situation as of July 1, covers people linked to Islamist terrorism or extremism who are considered capable of carrying out serious acts of violence, including attacks.

A further 65 people are classified as potential right-wing extremist threats and 17 as potential left-wing extremist threats.

The reasons for adding or removing individuals from the list vary and are assessed on a case-by-case basis by police in Germany's federal states, the BKA said, according to the report.

The number therefore fluctuates and, taken on its own, does not provide a reliable indication of the overall threat level, it added.

The figures come after a 21-year-old Berlin-born man with Lebanese roots and known links to Islamist extremism reportedly drove a van into a crowd on the fringes of Berlin's Pride events, which are known in Germany as Christopher Street Day (CSD), on Saturday evening.

A woman was killed and 29 other people were injured. The suspected perpetrator, Abdul B, is also reported to have stabbed passers-by with a bladed weapon, believed to be a machete. He was killed on Sunday during a police operation.

The attack has prompted a debate in Germany over tougher measures against people classified as extremist threats.