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Young right-wingers condemned: Act of violence against SPD election workers in Berlin!
After a right-wing attack on SPD election workers in Berlin, several perpetrators were convicted. The willingness to use violence among young people is increasing.
Young right-wingers condemned: Act of violence against SPD election workers in Berlin!
At a time when the political landscape is becoming increasingly polarized, incidents of right-wing violence are more alarming than ever. Six months ago, on December 14, 2024, several SPD election workers were brutally attacked in Berlin. The attack took place at the Lichterfelde-Ost S-Bahn station when the attackers first insulted and then physically attacked the SPD members. Not only were two election campaigners injured, but also several police officers, one of whom suffered a facial injury from a shard of glass and another who broke his hand. Fortunately, all of the injured were able to leave the hospital after outpatient treatment, but the psychological consequences of the attack are likely to be far-reaching. As rbb24 reports, the attackers were on the way to a right-wing march where dozens of right-wing extremists were demonstrating.
The Tiergarten district court has now convicted four of the attackers: They are between 17 and 20 years old and were found guilty because of their right-wing radical attitudes that motivated the crime. Youth sentences vary between one year and nine months and two years and eight months. However, the sentence is not a reason to be happy for the public prosecutor's office, as it falls short of its own requests. The latter spoke of extreme brutality, while the defense cited the defendant's difficult family circumstances. A decision on a possible suspension of the sentence on probation is still pending, reports Deutschlandfunk.
Rising numbers of right-wing violence
However, the brutal attacks are not an isolated incident. According to a response from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the number of right-wing extremist crimes in Germany increased to a new high of 33,963 offenses in 2024, representing a significant increase of at least 17.34 percent compared to the previous year. Particularly worrying is the increase in violent crime, which has reached an alarming level with 1,136 cases recorded, including almost 1,000 physical injuries. Arsons and propaganda crimes also contribute to the worrying statistics, as fr.de reports.
Particularly noteworthy is the proportion of young violent offenders. In this context, politician Martina Renner has urgently called for a review of the unconstitutionality of the AfD, as she sees a direct connection between the rise of the party and the increase in right-wing violence. Germany's politicians are faced with the challenge of taking effective measures to counteract this dangerous development.
The incident in Berlin and the increasing numbers of right-wing violence are a call to action. Society is required to develop a thick skin against hate speech and violence and to actively work towards respectful coexistence. This is the only way the democratic culture can be maintained in Germany.