Berlin.
Interior Minister Faeser is alarmed: Attacks on refugees are increasing again. But crime is growing extremely fast elsewhere.
Escalations in demonstrations, xenophobic attacks on asylum accommodation, property damage – the politically motivated ones registered by the police crime is at a new high. In particular, crimes committed during gatherings, such as attacks on political opponents or police officers, account for a large proportion of crimes.
But also politically motivated Violence increases. This worries the security authorities. “The greatest danger to democracy comes from right-wing extremism,” said the President of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Holger Münch, on Tuesday in Berlin.
Also read: Organized right-wing extremism – that is the Nazi network
The number of violent crimes right-wing extremists has increased in 2022. The police counted 1,013 physical injuries by suspected right-wing perpetrators last year – an increase of more than 16 percent compared to 2021. Physical injuries account for the largest proportion of politically motivated violent crimes in Germany.
Offenses by climate protectors increased by 70 percent
Overall, the number of politically motivated crimes by right-wing extremists increased in 2022 – by a good 15 percent compared to the previous year. With a share of 28 percent of the total number of cases, propaganda crimes, such as the dissemination of propaganda material or the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations, made up the majority of the crimes. Violations of the right of assembly also dominate the statistics of the police.
At the same time, the number of violence through left-wing extremists by around nine percent (to 399 registered bodily injuries in 2022). However, the police registered 1,716 offenses related to demonstrations by climate protectionists – an increase of more than 70 percent compared to 2021. The focus here is primarily on property damage and coercion. The vast majority of the perpetrators belong to the left-wing extremist spectrum.
Faeser: “Reflection of the social conflicts in the country”
“We must have ours democracy defend with all our might – against both internal and external threats,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD). The politically motivated crime is “a reflection of the social conflicts in our country”.
The beginning of 2022 was still marked by the corona pandemic. “I am particularly concerned that attacks on Refugees have increased sharply.” According to Faeser, this shows: “Right-wing extremism is still a particularly high risk.”
The number of crimes related to foreign ideology has also increased significantly. However, the increase can be explained almost exclusively by crimes related to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, which began in February 2022. In connection with demonstrations, for example, the police registered the approval of criminal offenses, but property damage and insults have also been reported Krieg increased in Ukraine in Germany.
Raids against “Reich citizens”: security authorities are alarmed
Last year there were also a total of 1865 offenses (2021: 1335) reported by the police with reference to Reich citizens – a significant increase compared to the previous year. As in the previous year, the focus of criminal offenses was coercion and threats with 778 offenses (2021: 437) and insults with 221 offenses (2021: 205).
At the end of 2022, the police had several dozen members of a suspected right-wing terrorist group in a major raid Reich citizen cell targeted, at the head of which the noble Prince Reuss should stand. Investigations are still ongoing and no proceedings have yet been opened.
Also read: How neo-Nazis train for “Day X”.
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