Merkel critical of German anti-terror shortcomings

German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized the legal obstacles to countering terrorism after an attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus on Tuesday, Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) reported Thursday.

Merkel noted that variations among the laws and regulations at the federal and state level would make the country vulnerable when facing a terrorism threat.

"(There are) unfortunately very different levels of laws in individual states," Merkel said.

She referred to North Rhine-Westphalia, saying the state did not allow policemen to conduct random checks and added that surveying people perceived as potential threats was not allowed in every state.

Merkel called on states to work in close coordination with the federal government and to do everything to "ensure safety in freedom" for German citizens.

On Tuesday, a bus carrying the Borussia Dortmund team was hit by bombs. One of its players was injured.

German prosecutors have detained a Iraqi suspect over the incident and investigations are ongoing.