Germany asks its Muslims to help fight terrorism

By Staff
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BERLIN, Aug 23 (Reuters) Germany called on its Muslim communities today to help combat terrorism amid mounting fears of an attack after police said last week two attempted train bombings may have been a ''terrorist'' plot.

Germany has been on edge since authorities said two suspects linked to the incident might have been part of a wider militant Islamist network wanting to send a signal over the Wasia crisis.

Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, who has warned that Germany is not immune to terrorist attacks, said Muslim communities should help.

''I urge especially our Muslim citizens not to look away and not to be sympathetic towards young people who are inclined towards violence,'' Schaeuble told weekly newspaper Die Zeit in extracts released today.

Although there have been questions recently over how well-integrated Germany's large Turkish community is, there has so far been little evidence of radical Muslim elements emerging as they have in other countries, including Britain.

About 1.8 million Turks holding Turkish passports live in Germany and a further 700,000 are first and second generation Germans.

Schaeuble signalled he favoured using police informers to infiltrate suspected Islamist groups.

''We must of course employ all the intelligence means we need to fight the threat,'' he told Thursday's General Anzeiger newspaper in extracts released today.

He also said the more than 3 million people of Muslim origin in Germany needed stronger representation and he supported the idea of more Islamic lessons in schools.

Berlin's Islamic Federation said communities were prepared to report any incitement of violence.

''We are always ready to cooperate closely with the authorities and call on politicians to approach Muslims,'' said the head of the federation, Aykut Algan.

Police are holding a 21-year-old Lebanese man they suspect planted one of the bombs, which failed to go off, last month.

They have launched a manhunt for a second suspect.

Reuters MS MIR RN2341

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