German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday described recent attacks in Germany and across Europe as "shocking, depressing and terrifying," but refused to back down on her open-door refugee policy that has attracted criticism following three recent assaults in the country.
"What the terrorists want ... is that we lose our view for what's important to us. They want to divide out unity our cooperation, they want to harm our life," she told reporters at a news conference.
Germany has been rattled by four attacks in the past two weeks, three of which authorities say appear to have been carried out by asylum seekers or refugees with inspiration from Islamist extremism.
Merkel said Germany would be more strict in deporting asylum seekers whose applications had been rejected.
"Those refugees who carry out attacks mock the country that took them in," she said. Although she did not roll back on her open-door refugee policy, she said the country "must improve the process for repatriation of migrants."
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