Germany's domestic intelligence agency warned on Tuesday that the country faces growing security threats from foreign adversaries and domestic extremists, citing Moscow-backed sabotage, Chinese espionage, Iran-linked militants and increasingly violent neo-Nazi networks.
"The adversaries of our free democratic basic order come from both outside and within," Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said while presenting the report in Berlin.
Dobrindt urged "very quick" government action on proposals to give Germany's intelligence agencies expanded powers and lift some strict limits on covert operations.
"Given the situation, we are convinced that we must further strengthen our capabilities," he said.
The greatest external threat "currently comes from Russia", Dobrindt asserted, pointing to suspected cases of low-level or "disposable" agents recruited by Moscow to carry out espionage and sabotage acts.
