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Frankfurt (dpa / lhe) - Even if the reporting office "Hessen looks out" has only existed for a year, 184 right-wing and racist incidents have already been reported from almost all cities and districts in Hesse.

This emerges from the first annual report presented by the online press office on Tuesday.

These included physical attacks, insults and threats, psychological violence and bullying and politically motivated damage to property, according to the Response advice center for those affected by right-wing, racist and anti-Semitic violence, which is located at the Anne Frank educational institution in Frankfurt.

In addition, there was the right-wing terrorist attack in Hanau with nine deaths, as well as a further 118 anonymously reported incidents.

"When people have to expect to be the target of violent attacks in everyday life at any time, this shakes their feeling of security tremendously, especially when the acts occur in their personal living environment," said Liisa Pärssinen, head of the response.

"Rights and racist violence does not just begin with homicides - the cases recorded in our reporting statistics clearly show the spectrum of violence, which ranges from verbal attacks to threats to brutal attacks on life and limb."

However, the reporting office suspects a high number of unreported cases: “This does not represent the real world.

The cases only represent the excerpt that we as the counseling center receive, ”said the deputy response manager Roman Jeltsch.

"We are assuming a really high number of unreported incidents."

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A paradigm shift in dealing with racism is also necessary at the state level, said Meron Mendel, director of the Anne Frank educational institution.

"After the Hanau attack, the federal government drew up a package of measures relatively boldly, while the state of Hesse is only making progress at a snail's pace."

It is important that not only more people look and report incidents, but also that those affected break their previous silence: "People should not accept that racism or anti-Semitism is part of their everyday life."

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210316-99-844213 / 2

Registration office "Hessen is watching"