German lawmakers pass security bill in response to Islamist attacks

German lawmakers approved on Friday a package of security and immigration measures proposed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left coalition in response to suspected Islamist attacks earlier this year.

The plan includes a general ban on knives at public events. Under the new law, asylum seekers obliged to leave the country may have their benefits cut if another European Union country is responsible for them under the EU's so-called Dublin rules and there are no obstacles to their departure.

In terrorism investigations, a comparison of biometric data on the internet is to be made possible, provided that the president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) gets court approval.

One part of the package still requires approval from the upper house, known as the Bundesrat, which is also set to vote later on Friday.

There is criticism of the plans from within parts of the SPD and the Greens, partly due to stricter measures in the area of migration.

The three-party coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) initiated the new security proposal.

A deadly knife attack at a local festival in the western German city of Solingen in late August that left three people dead prompted Scholz's government to propose the changes.

The suspect, a 26-year-old Syrian citizen, is believed to have acted out of Islamist extremist motives. He had evaded an order to be deported from Germany to Bulgaria, prompting renewed debate over Germany's handling of asylum seekers and other migrants.