Following a fatal incident on a regional train in Landstuhl, Jochen Kopelke – the national chairman of the German Police Federation – has demanded a substantial increase in both federal and state police forces. He told the Funke Media Group’s Thursday newspapers that, given the concerns of train staff, passengers and law‑enforcement officers, the federal government together with the Interior and Transport Ministers must urgently discuss and approve actions.

The Bundespolizei, which is responsible for security at train stations, has been awaiting reinforcement for months. Kopelke pointed out that the police are heavily constrained by border‑control duties. He called for an immediate programme for all police agencies, arguing that an additional 14 platoons for federal and state police would give “effective, powerful and flexible” security across the country.