(de-news.net) – The 2024 Report on the Protection of the Constitution, presented by Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV) Vice President Sinan Selen alongside Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt, underscores a significant escalation in extremist criminal activity. Politically motivated offenses with extremist origins surged by more than 46%, reaching 57,701 incidents in 2024, compared to 39,433 in the previous year. Of these, 2,976 cases involved acts of violence.
A section of the report examines the ramifications of the Middle East crisis and the concurrent rise in antisemitism. Extremist factions continue to exploit geopolitical instability as a means to incite animosity and aggression against Jewish communities and the state of Israel. Moreover, the report identifies cyberattacks, sabotage, transnational repression, and espionage as acute security threats. The dissemination of propaganda and misinformation intensified considerably in the context of the German federal election.
The right-wing extremist movement experienced substantial growth, with the number of individuals classified within this category expanding to 50,250 (2023: 40,600), while the subset of violent right-wing extremists increased to 15,300 (2023: 14,500). Right-wing extremist rhetoric remains centrally concerned with violence inspired by Islamist ideology. The internet continues to be a pivotal vector for radicalization, particularly among younger demographics. Similarly, the number of individuals associated with the “Reichsbürger” and “Selbstverwalter” movements increased to 26,000 (2023: 25,000), with the violent subset growing to 2,600 (2023: 2,500). The increasingly interconnected nature of extremist networks constitutes a cause for serious concern.
The left-wing extremist movement recorded a membership count of 38,000 (2023: 37,000), with more than a quarter classified as violence-oriented. The frequency and severity of attacks on public institutions escalated, resulting in economic damages amounting to millions of euros. Additionally, politically motivated crimes directed against parties and politicians increased markedly, particularly within the context of electoral events.
The report also highlights a significant rise in Islamist extremism and terrorism, with the number of radicalized individuals reaching 28,280 (2023: 27,200), of whom 9,540 are deemed prone to violence. The Middle East conflict has intensified security risks faced by Jewish and Israeli institutions. The terrorist attacks in Mannheim and Solingen illustrate the persistent threat posed by IS-affiliated jihadists.
Furthermore, the sector of foreign-related extremism witnessed a pronounced expansion, with 32,500 individuals (2023: 30,650) classified within this category, including 22,000 who are violence-oriented.
