“The attack on Monday evening in Berlin was aimed against the whole of Europe, meaning Hungary was also attacked”, Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács said at a press conference in Budapest, held jointly with György Bakondi, Chief Security Advisor to Prime Minister.
“We cannot be naive (…), the security situation in Europe has decreased dramatically over the past year and a half”, the primary cause of which is illegal and uncontrolled migration, continued Mr. Kovács, according to whom everything must be done in the interests of the security of Europe and Hungary.
The Spokesperson informed the press that according to the information available, a Hungarian national was also lightly injured in the attack, but has already left the hospital.
No official information regarding this has been provided by the German authorities so far. Mr. Kovács said that officials from the Foreign Ministry are on call to assist anyone affected by the tragic and barbaric attack, and expressed his condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, the German people and the country’s leaders in the name of the Government.
At the press conference, Mr. Bakondi spoke about the fact that there is no information concerning any planned terrorist attack in Hungary, but added that police security would be intensified at locations in Hungary where large crowds gather, such as at Christmas markets.
“Security has also been increased at the German and Russian embassies, in addition to which heightened patrolling by police and officers from the Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK) is designed to deter those who are perhaps contemplating an attack”, he added.
Mr. Bakondi also informed the press that Hungarian law enforcement bodies are working in cooperation with the German authorities.
In reply to a question, the Chief Advisor added: “There is currently no information on whether the man suspected of carrying out the attack arrived in Germany via Hungary or had been in Hungary at all”.
“The National Police Commissioner has ordered nationwide measures to protect the public, within the framework of which there will be a continuous police presence at major shopping centres, Christmas markets and other events that draw large crowds”, head of the National Police Headquarters’ Public Order Department, Tibor Lakatos announced at an earlier press conference in Budapest.
(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister)
