Rising Extremism in Germany: Right-wing, Left-wing and Islamist threats grow

The number of extremists and anti-constitutional, violent groups in Germany increased again last year – this applies to right-wing extremism, left-wing extremism, and Islamism. "Germany's constitutional order is exposed to attacks almost daily," said Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) on Tuesday at the presentation of the latest report by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. These included sabotage and espionage, disinformation, acts of violence, and threats.

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In this report, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution assesses anti-constitutional developments and extremist groups. Among other things, it determines their "personnel potential" and the number of violence-oriented members. According to the report, the potential for right-wing extremism and right-wing extremist terrorism comprised 50,250 people at the end of last year – compared to 40,600 a year earlier. The number of right-wing extremists classified as violence-oriented is estimated at 15,300, compared to 14,500 by the end of 2023.

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As in the previous report by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the AfD, which was classified as a suspect, is also included in the potential for extremism. Given the increased number of members and the "continued statements and positions relevant to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution" in the reporting year, the report therefore assumes that the potential for extremism has also increased here. The "networking and blending tendencies" in this area are partly responsible for the overall increase.

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Furthermore, in the area of Islamism and Islamist terrorism, the report reveals a figure of 28,280 people, compared to 27,200 in the previous report. Of these, around 9540 people are estimated to be violence-oriented. This also includes organizations such as the Islamic State, offshoots of al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

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In the area of left-wing extremism, the numbers increased to 38,000 people last year, up from 37,000 in the previous year. Accordingly, approximately 11,200 group members are still violence-oriented.

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The report also pays particular attention to the increasing use of so-called low-level agents, which has only been observed since the end of 2023. These are people who are recruited and managed by Russian intelligence services, usually via the internet, to carry out short-term assignments. However, they are not themselves part of the intelligence services.

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Germany remains a key target of cyberattacks and espionage, the report emphasizes. Along with Russia - China, Iran and Turkey are “unchanged” as the main perpetrators. The activities of Russian services in particular have been “at a very high level for many years”.