Swiss Attorney General Stefan Blättler on Terrorism and National Security

Swiss Attorney General Stefan Blättler stated that Switzerland remains a safe country despite a recent knife attack in Winterthur and the discovery of a mole in the Federal Office of Police. Blättler is investigating a suspected terrorist motive in the Winterthur attack while calling for legal reforms to speed up access to digital evidence.

The Attorney General is currently leading investigations into two separate security breaches that occurred within a few weeks. In Winterthur, a suspect injured three passersby with a knife and is now in investigative custody. According to Blättler, current conversations with the suspect suggest a terrorist motive, though a psychiatric evaluation is being conducted to determine the suspect’s accountability.

In a separate case, an employee of the Federal Office of Police allegedly sold information to the Mafia. Blättler described the incident as “anything other than pleasing” but noted that Switzerland is an open, internationally oriented country where such individual cases can occur.

Did You Know? Stefan Blättler served as the commander of the Bern police beginning in 2006 and was the president of the cantonal conference of police commanders from 2014 to 2020 before becoming Attorney General in 2022.

Why is the Swiss government seeking legal changes?

Blättler is calling for a revision of “sealing” (Siegelung) rules within criminal procedure law. Currently, investigators cannot access a suspect’s mobile phone data until a court reviews and approves the specific data permitted for access.

Blättler argues that this legal requirement creates delays in cases involving public security. He stated that while he does not expect the current data access to take months, every day is critical when population safety is at risk.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the tension between “sealing” laws and urgent security needs represents a fundamental conflict in a constitutional state. The trade-off involves balancing individual privacy protections against the speed required to neutralize immediate terrorist threats.

What could happen next in Swiss security protocols?

The discovery of the mole in the Federal Office of Police may lead to a review of internal security measures. Blättler indicated that authorities are now asking if the circle of persons subject to security screenings should be expanded.

LIVE: Zurich Police Give Update After Knife Attack Injures Three at Winterthur Train Station | APT

Legal changes to the criminal procedure law could also be a possible next step if political pressure leads to a revision of the sealing process. These changes may aim to reduce the time between the seizure of digital evidence and its analysis by investigators.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current status of the Winterthur attacker?
The suspect is in investigative custody. Investigators suspect a terrorist motive, but they are awaiting a psychiatric report to clarify the suspect’s motivation and mental accountability.

What happened with the mole in the Federal Office of Police?
An employee is alleged to have sold information to the Mafia. Attorney General Blättler stated that 100% security cannot be guaranteed in an open country.

Why can’t the Attorney General access the suspect’s phone immediately?
Under current criminal procedure law, a court must first verify which specific data investigators are allowed to access before the “sealing” is lifted.

Do you believe security screenings should be expanded for all government employees to prevent internal leaks?