Suspected Islamic extremists could be forced to wear electronic tags without trial in Germany, under radical new proposals put forward by the country’s justice minister.

Heiko Maas said he wanted to extend the use of electronic ankle tags to those deemed a potential terror threat even if they have not been convicted of any crime.

The proposals come as senior ministers in Angela Merkel’s government prepare to meet on Tuesday to discuss security reforms in the wake of last month’s Christmas market terror attack in Berlin, in which 12 people died.

Anis Amri, the attacker, was able to move freely around Germany despite being identified as a terror threat because police could not secure enough evidence to arrest him.

Mr Maas called for a “preventive offensive” against the threat from Islamic extremism.

“The use of ankle tags should not be only available for convicted criminals after release from prison, but for those identified as a general threat as well,” he said.

Under current German law, electronic tags are only possible for convicted sex offenders after their release from prison, but Mr Maas called for their use to be expanded.