T 5.6 Attack

There are multiple technical possibilities for carrying out an attack: throwing bricks; use of explosives; use of firearms; arson. Whether an IT operator will be exposed to the risk of attack, and to what extent, will depend on the site and environment of the building and also, to a great extent, on his tasks and on the political/social climate. IT operators working in controversial political fields are more at risk than others. IT operators near areas frequently used for demonstrations will be at greater risk than those in remote places. When assessing the risk of politically motivated attacks, advice can be obtained from the local criminal police office or from the federal criminal police office.

Examples:

• During the 80s, a bomb attack was committed against the computer centre of a large federal authority in Cologne.

• Almost every year, an internal revenue office in the Rhine region was paralysed for several hours on account of bomb threats.

• In the late 80s, an attempted attack by the RAF against the computer centre of a major German bank was reported