German defence expert says intelligence agencies need wider reach

A German opposition politician on Friday called on the government to strengthen the country's intelligence services, in the wake of an alleged Russian plot to assassinate the head of arms maker Rheinmetall.

"It's about enabling our intelligence services to provide better reconnaissance," said Roderich Kiesewetter, a former member of the German armed services, on public broadcaster ZDF.

The German agencies must be brought on a par with those of neighbouring countries, he added, warning against stricter legal regulations on communications between intelligence services, police and legal authorities.

According to a report by US broadcaster CNN, US intelligence uncovered Russian government plans to assassinate Armin Papperger, the chief executive of Rheinmetall, earlier this year.

Kiesewetter, from Germany's centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said containing the Russian threat will require serious measures. "It is not enough to expel one or two diplomats from Russia," he said.

The politician welcomed the recent decision to station US long-range missiles in Germany. "We must ensure that we do not become politically or militarily vulnerable to blackmail by Russia. And that is why this rearmament is necessary," he stated.

However, Kiesewetter said the move would require effective communication from the government, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with the German public. "The chancellor must come clean with the population about how great the threat really is," he added.