Following the attack on the Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin, calls for stricter measures against offenders are growing louder. Susanne Hierl, the legal policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU faction, told RBB-Inforadio that she believes “everything that prevents such attacks in the future is a good regulation.” This discussion builds upon a three-point security package previously announced by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). This package focuses on revisions to juvenile justice, the use of electronic ankle monitors, and the issue of preventive detention.
Addressing juvenile justice, Hierl suggested that in certain circumstances, such as involvement in a terrorist organization, the concept of “developmental immaturity” could no longer apply, allowing for the application of adult criminal law. She also proposed revisiting probation sentences so that they would not be applicable for specific offenses.
Regarding the use of electronic ankle monitors for dangerous individuals, Hierl stated, “We still need to look closely at whether this makes sense in every case, but thinking about it is definitely a good approach.” Furthermore, she stressed the necessity of standard, uniform rules for preventive detention, suggesting that Bavaria could serve as a model.
Günter Krings, a CDU interior politician, similarly welcomed Dobrindt’s proposals to tighten juvenile justice. Speaking to the “Rhenish Post”, Krings stated that he fully supports Alexander Dobrindt’s proposals, adding that “juvenile justice must not lead to a situation where the state leaves us defenseless against highly dangerous perpetrators who are often already adults.” He argued for the consistent application of adult criminal law starting at age 18.
Looking at the CSD attack, Krings pointed out that the perpetrator had been assigned juvenile justice in his previous Berlin conviction, even though he was 20 years old at the time of the offense, had systematically radicalized himself, and had planned and attempted to leave the country multiple times with high criminal energy. Krings asserted that this did not show “developmental delay” but was instead an example of imbalanced practices in juvenile court. He demanded a clear legislative answer: the legal adult status in civil law must be matched by full responsibility in criminal law.
Authorities had identified the alleged attacker as an Islamist threat. Earlier this year (in May), he had been sentenced to a juvenile sentence of one year and ten months for preparing a serious threat to state security, a sentence for which he was granted a form of conditional release (probation). The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office had recommended a higher sentence that would not have allowed for probation.
