Attack on diversity: Extremists disrupt festival in Bad Freienwalde!

Attack on diversity: Extremists disrupt festival in Bad Freienwalde!

In Bad Freienwalde, East Brandenburg, unrest broke out on June 15, 2025, when a group of attackers, some of whom were masked, attacked the event at a festival for diversity and tolerance. This brutal action resulted in at least two minor injuries and was condemned by Interior Minister René Wilke (independent, for the SPD) as a worrying sign of increasing right-wing extremism. Wilke noted that the situation shows evidence of potential violence and extremist activity, particularly against the backdrop of documented calls for national resistance. Video recordings indicated that the small right-wing extremist party “The Third Way”, which is known in the neo-Nazi scene for its anti-migrant positions, was involved in the incident.

“The Third Way”, founded in Heidelberg in 2013, sees itself as a radical alternative to the NPD. Under the leadership of Klaus Armstroff, a former NPD official, the party pursues a strongly neo-Nazi program that presents itself as ethnic and national revolutionary. Their demands range from “preservation and development of the biological substance of the people” to “German socialism,” which underlines their danger. According to information from the Federal Agency for Civic Education, the party has appeared primarily through demonstrations against refugee accommodation and has already published guidelines on preventing asylum accommodation.

Right-wing extremism on the rise

The incidents in Bad Freienwalde are part of a larger, worrying trend. According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the number of violent right-wing extremists has increased to around 15,300. The total right-wing extremist potential rose to 50,250 in 2024, which corresponds to an increase of 9,650 people compared to 2023. The number of recorded right-wing extremist crimes has also increased dramatically, including an 11.6% increase in violent crimes.

The year 2024 recorded a total of 37,835 right-wing extremist crimes, an increase of 47.4%. The focus was particularly on crimes with a xenophobic background; Physical injuries increased by 4.8% to 916 and xenophobic acts of violence increased by 5.4% to 983. These alarming statistics make it clear that right-wing extremist ideologies are continually anchored in society and create a wide space for violent actors.

Political reactions and outlook

The political reaction to the incident in Bad Freienwalde was unanimous: While the AfD condemned the attack and called for non-violence, SPD MP Andreas Noack described the AfD's statements as “mendacious”. What is particularly explosive is that the Brandenburg State Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the AfD as right-wing extremist, but this classification has been temporarily put on hold. Interior Minister Wilke criticized the statements of AfD MP Lena Kotré, who had trivialized the incident. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for social solidarity and emphasized that such incidents must not occur again.

The events in Bad Freienwalde are a serious warning signal. Resolute social and political action is required to counter right-wing extremism and to advocate for diversity and tolerance. The reporting shows once again that combating extremism is essential to protecting the values ​​of democracy.

For further information about the right-wing extremist small party “The Third Way”, you can read the detailed analysis on the Federal Agency for Civic Education. Details on current developments in the area of right-wing extremism are also provided by Verfassungsschutz, while [n-tv].