The German government on Wednesday unveiled its first civil defence plan since the end of the Cold War, which include advice to stockpile key supplies in the event of a terror…
The German government on Wednesday unveiled its first civil defence plan since the end of the Cold War, which include advice to stockpile key supplies in the event of a terror attack.
The plan was presented to ministers on Wednesday after a string of media leaks since the start of the week.
It also moots a possible return to conscription, five years after compulsory military service was abolished in Germany.
“The growing vulnerability of our modern infrastructure and the dependence of modern society on supra-regional resources – for example electricity, water, IT supply, nutrition – indicates that there are varied points of attack in such modern societies and that requires a diverse preparation,” said Thomas de Maziere, Germany’s interior minister.
Last week, Berlin announced tough new anti-terror measures including a controversial proposal to strip jihadist fighters of their German nationality.
But the proposals on stockpiling sparked comical responses on social media.
HamsterKaufe – a German term for panic buying or hoarding like a hamster – became a popular hastag online.