Islamist terrorists are the ‘greatest threat’ to Germany says Angela Merkel in her new year message
The Chancellor also defended her controversial open-door immigration policy
ANGELA Merkel has declared that Islamic terrorism is the biggest challenge facing Germany.
In her New Year message, the beleaguered Chancellor said that she was ‘sickened’ by the terror attacks carried out by extremists this year.
On December 19, Germany was rocked by a truck attack on a Christmas market which left 12 people dead.
The Tunisian asylum seeker who carried out the massacre was later shot dead in Milan.
Merkel, who is seeking her fourth term in office, has been slammed by members of her own party for her open-door immigration policy.
related stories
But the 62-year-old insists that Germany is “stronger together” and that she is “confident” for her country.
She said: “It is particularly bitter and sickening when terror attacks are committed by people who claim to seek protection in our country."
She added: “As we go about our lives and our work, we are saying to the terrorists: 'You are hate-filled murderers, but you do not determine how we live and want to live.
“We are free, considerate and open.”
Merkel defended her controversial immigration policy, which led to over one million migrants coming into Germany since 2015, when speaking about the atrocities carried out in Aleppo, Syria.
She said: “How important and right it was for our country to help those who really need our protection find their feet here and integrate.”
While admitting the EU was “slow and difficult” Merkel hit out at any suggestion that Germany should leave the European Union like the UK.
She said: “But no - we Germans should never be deceived into thinking that a happy future could ever lie in going it alone nationally.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368