The head of one of Germany's largest defense contractors, Rheinmetall, is refusing to be intimidated despite round-the-clock security due to alleged threats to his safety.
In comments to Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) released on Sunday, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said "chickening out" is not an option in his field.
"These jobs must be done, and anyone that can't take the pressure doesn't belong in this job," he said.
The 63-year-old is under police protection due to alleged Russian murder plots and has bodyguards at his side at all times, even in Rheinmetall's Dusseldorf headquarters. His level of protection is similar to that of Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"It is well known that my garden shed was set on fire and that there were demonstrations outside my house," said Papperger. "If that’s a threat, then yes, perhaps I ought to feel threatened.”
