Merkel: Islamic terrorism is Germany’s biggest test

Germany’s chancellor says the biggest challenge the country faces is Islamist terrorism.

Angela Merkel said during a New Year’s address that this year was one of “severe tests,” according to the BBC.

{mosads}Merkel said it was “sickening” that someone pursuing asylum would commit the truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market just before the holiday. 

“As we go about our lives and our work, we are saying to the terrorists: ‘You are hate-filled murderers, but you do not determine how we live and want to live. We are free, considerate and open,’ ” Merkel said.

A Tunisian man seeking asylum drove a truck into a Christmas market, killing 12 people. The man was later killed by Italian police.

This, along with earlier incidents in the year, has inspired criticism of Merkel’s refugee policy.

Merkel, who is running for re-election in 2017, permitted more than 1 million refugees into the country in 2015, according to the Washington Post.