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Federal Minister of the Interior Faeser: "With full force against all extremists"
Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa
With the verdict against Lina E. on Wednesday and the fourth anniversary of the death of Kassel district president Walter Lübcke tomorrow, Friday, the threat of left-wing and right-wing extremists is once again coming into focus. According to Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), the greatest danger currently still comes from the right.
"I am particularly concerned that attacks on refugees have increased sharply. It is highly inhumane to attack people who have found protection from war and terror with us," Faeser told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
The AfD bears a political share of responsibility for this, said the minister. "Not only violent right-wing extremists are dangerous, but also intellectual arsonists who prepare the ground for violence."
"Inhibitions have dropped there"
At the same time, Faeser rejected the accusation of underestimating the threat posed by left-wing extremists in Germany. In the area of left-wing extremism, there is an increasing radicalization and a growing willingness to use violence on the part of isolated groups. "There are inhibitions to brutally attack political opponents," said Faeser. This spiral of violence must not be allowed to continue. "We are taking full action against all extremists who despise our democracy and attack people in our country."
The trial of left-wing extremist Lina E. for violent attacks on actual or alleged right-wing extremists had triggered a debate about left-wing violence in Germany. The Higher Regional Court of Dresden had sentenced the 28-year-old on Wednesday to five years and three months in prison. Three co-accused men received prison sentences of up to three years and three months.
Tomorrow, Friday, marks the fourth anniversary of Walter Lübcke's death. The former member of the state parliament was shot dead on the night of June 2, 2019 on the terrace of his home in Wolfhagen-Istha in the district of Kassel by the right-wing extremist Stephan Ernst. Ernst was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder on January 29, 2021.
Faeser recalled the murder on Thursday together with Hesse's state parliament president Astrid Wallmann (CDU). The CDU politician was a great role model as a convinced and courageous democrat, civil courage, solidarity and humanity had shaped his actions, "which is a compass for us," said Wallmann. With regard to the murder, Faeser spoke of a warning and a "deep cut".
fek/dpa