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Katja Mast, Parliamentary Secretary of the SPD parliamentary group
Photo: Christoph Soeder / picture alliance / dpa
The SPD parliamentary group wants to use specially trained staff at its events in the future in order to be armed against attacks with knockout drops.
According to SPIEGEL information, the parliamentary director Katja Mast presented the MPs with a new "security and prevention concept" on Monday evening, which, among other things, provides for so-called awareness teams at large group events.
After the parliamentary group's summer party on July 6 in Berlin, 14 guests initially complained about symptoms such as dizziness, malaise and memory gaps, mostly women.
In seven cases, the police began investigations.
There is a suspicion that at least some of those affected had been administered knockout drops unnoticed.
These are imperceptible in drinks, for example, and can lead to a blackout in people, making them defenseless.
Also, knockout drops are only detectable in the body for a limited amount of time.
As a result, the parliamentary group leadership announced that it wanted to revise the security concept.
For this, the comrades also got the advice of event agencies, security service providers and the police.
In addition, MPs and employees should make suggestions for improving the security situation at large meetings and festivals.
"We are convinced that such events need new instruments," parliamentary group manager Mast now told SPIEGEL.
The Awareness Team stands by “people in a binding and supportive manner if they have negative experiences at events,” says Mast.
In addition, there should be a contact telephone number at major events in the future that concerned guests can contact.
In addition, stricter admission controls are planned, which will require visitors to identify themselves, among other things.
»Our goal is clear: We want to ensure the greatest possible security for our employees, our guests and the members of parliament at our events.«
The parliamentary group had celebrated their summer festival in the immediate vicinity of the Chancellery.
More than 1000 guests were invited at the time, but this time only MPs and employees from the Bundestag and the constituencies due to the corona pandemic.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz was also present at the celebration.
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