Skip next section German intelligence leaders sound the alarm about Russia, Hamas in public briefing
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
German intelligence leaders sound the alarm about Russia, Hamas in public briefing
The leaders of Germany’s two main intelligence services made their annual public statements to the Bundestag on Monday, saying the threats posed by Russia and by the Palestinian militant group Hamas should not be underestimated.
Sinan Selen, the head of the BfV, the country’s domestic spy agency, said a recent peace deal for Gaza did not mean that there is a “reason to sound the all-clear when it comes to Hamas and its activities in Europe and Germany.”
Selen said Hamas had “infrastructure” in Germany, and his office estimated that about 32,500 people living in the country can be classified as foreign extremists. This is an increase of 6% over the previous year.
Martin Jäger, chief of the foreign intelligence service, the BND, said that the “icy peace” between Europe and Russia right now could at any moment become a “hot confrontation.”
To achieve its goal of broader political influence in Europe, “Russia will not shy away from direct military confrontation with NATO if necessary,” Jäger said, adding that sweeping propaganda efforts were already underway.
Is Europe ready for a hybrid war? — To the Point
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https://p.dw.com/p/51tDk
Skip next section Merz travels to Egypt for Gaza peace deal signing
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Merz travels to Egypt for Gaza peace deal signing
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has left Berlin en route to Egypt, as world leaders gather to attend the official signing of the Israel-Hamas peace deal for Gaza.
Merz will be joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, among others.
The chancellor has hailed the truce as “good news for people in the Middle East” and the world over, promising €29 million ($33.6 million) in aid and that Germany would take part in a Gaza reconstruction conference soon to be held in Egypt.
At the same time, German-Israeli twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman were reunited for the first time in two years as some of the last hostages held by Hamas to be released.
‘Soft power’ diplomacy in demand at Egypt summit: analyst
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https://p.dw.com/p/51t50
Skip next section Dozens injured after suspected blast starts apartment fire in Berlin
10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Dozens injured after suspected blast starts apartment fire in Berlin
Several ground-floor homes were destroyedImage: Fabian Sommer/dpa/picture alliance
At least 46 people were injured after a fire broke out in a large social housing block in Berlin, firefighters said. Fifteen people were taken to local hospitals.
They said the blaze broke out after a suspected explosion, but no further details were immediately available.
The fire began on the ground floor and quickly spread before emergency services were able to fully put it out, allowing residents on the second floor and upward to return to their homes after an evacuation.
The High Deck housing estate is home to about 6,000 people in a series of 6-story apartment buildings in the capital’s Neukölln district.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the blaze.
https://p.dw.com/p/51tAV
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage10/13/2025October 13, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Guten Tag from DW’s newsroom in Bonn.
Today we will be covering a major public intelligence meeting, reactions from Berlin to developments in Gaza and any other major news across Germany.
Follow here for the latest headlines throughout the day.
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