Germany will consider if it needs to toughen up juvenile crime laws after a brutal attack by two immigrant youths in Munich, government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said in Berlin Wednesday, according to dpa. "There is without any doubt a problem with highly aggressive repeat offenders," he told reporters. Berlin would act to "preserve public safety." After a third attack in two weeks by youths on passengers in the Munich underground train system, juvenile delinquency has shot to the top of the German political agenda, with law-and-order politicians calling for boot camps to be set up for young offenders. Wilhelm, who is Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, said the solution could be for judges to make better use of existing penalties, rather than altering the laws. Merkel wanted to hear "calm" debate on the issues, he said. Some of Merkel's fellow Christian Democrats are calling for a sharp clampdown. Wilhelm said some of the proposals were "absolutely within the constitution" and would be studied by the government. But he said the issues also included improving education and the integration of minorities.
