Attack on Bad Freienwalde is colorful: concern for right -wing violence grows

Attack on Bad Freienwalde is colorful: concern for right -wing violence grows

On Sunday, June 16, 2025, a brutal attack on the event "Bad Freienwalde is colorful" caused excitement and unrest in the Märkisch-Oderland region. The colorful rally, which was to take place on the marketplace and attracted around 400 visitors, was attacked by alleged right -wing extremists with batons. This incident, which made headlines nationwide, throws a bright light on the growing willingness to violence of extremist groups.

Before the event began, about a dozen attackers, masked with storm hoods in the colors of the German Empire, targeted the stand operators and participants. The violence resulted in several injuries. Among those affected was a member of the association "We pack it", who suffered serious injuries when he tried to stop the attackers. Renate Wilke, Brandenburg Minister of the Interior, and Ralf Lehmann, Mayor of Bad Freienwalde, clearly condemned the attack and expressed their wishes for the injured. Wilke emphasized the urgency to stand against such violent attacks on our social values, while Lehmann classified the event as a "disturbance of the event" and sharply condemned any form of violence. According to [rbbb24] (https://www.rbb24.de/politik/2025/06/maerkisch-oderland-bad-freienwalde-feit-buSucher- Viert- Verst- event-realtml), the organizer Judith Strohm also expressed the importance of the protection of democratic values ​​and the need for a serious dialogue about the Dangers from right -wing extremist groups.

a worrying environment

The incident is no coincidence: in recent years the violence of right -wing extremist groups has increased in Germany. In the constitutional protection report 2023, Bad Freienwalde is listed as a central meeting point for the right scene. Tom Kurz from the advice center for victims of right -wing violence sees this attack a new highlight of the right -wing extremist organization in the region. "It is a targeted attack on open society," said Sebastian Walter, the state chairman of the left. The influence of the young neo -Nazis who are active in Bad Freienwalde is growing. According to the Borg advice center, the number of attacks at democratic events in Märkisch-Oderland has also increased, which increases urgency to tackle these developments. A similar incident occurred this weekend when a rainbow flag was lit in Dallgow-Döberitz.

Jule Grienitz, the spokeswoman for the alliance, also criticized the police, who was on site, but could not intervene in time at the scene. These gaps in the security architecture raise questions about the efficiency of police presence, especially in such a sensitive environment. "We have to stick together so as not to let civil society groups intimidate," explained Julian Mockel from the victim perspective. Obviously, these violent acts are part of a larger, worrying trend that questions the stability of our democratic values.

an alarming picture

The increase in right -wing extremist violence can also be measured in numbers. According to the protection of the constitution, violence -oriented potential has grown to around 15,300 people under right -wing extremists. Throughout the year 2024, more than 37,800 right -wing extremist crimes were registered with the German authorities, an increase in impressive 47.4 percent compared to 2023. These figures clearly document the urgency to jointly against this development and to strengthen the possibility of civil society, to defend themselves against right -wing extremists.

In this tense situation, it is more important than ever that both local politics and civil society work together in order to set a strong signal against the right and to stand up for diversity and tolerance. We have to act determined and solidarity to ensure that such attacks never become the norm.