German Inteligence: Russian aggression contributes to the growth of extremists in Germany

Main image: Right-wing extremists' demonstration in Germany (photo from the archive). Photo: Roland Weihrauch/dpa/picture alliance

Russian aggression against Ukraine has led to an increase in extremists in Germany, exacerbated by the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East. President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution of Germany, Thomas Haldenwang, stated this, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

The official identified the growing number of followers of right-wing extremist movements as a key threat to the country's internal security. In 2023, Germany counted approximately 40,600 right-wing extremists, an increase from the previous year. The number of left-wing extremists also rose, from 36,500 in 2022 to 37,000.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution noted an increased risk of jihadist attacks, citing Hamas militants' aggression against Israel as a contributing factor.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized that the domestic security situation remains tense. She highlighted ongoing threats to Germany's internal security from Russia, including cyberattacks, espionage, and the spread of disinformation.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, Russia has sought to destabilize the situation in Germany. It was recently announced that Germany has established a special working group to counter disinformation campaigns.