BTU Cottbus is outraged by growing violence against students and projects!

BTU Cottbus is outraged by growing violence against students and projects!

Cottbus, Deutschland - The Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) has decidedly clearly position itself against discrimination and violence. This is done against the background of growing concern about the social atmosphere in Lusatia. Especially in recent months there have been worrying incidents that indicate an increase in right violence. In December 2024 and February 2025, students were persecuted and attacked in Cottbus. In the night of March 1 to March 2, 2025, the youth club "Jamm" in Senftenberg was attacked by over 30 hooded people.

On May 24, 2025, the alternative residential project "Cell 79" in Cottbus experienced a massive assault, which is classified as a presumably right attack. Böller and torches were thrown against the building, while the attackers chanted anti -constitutional slogans. According to reports, those affected speak of an attempted arson attack. The police and state security are already investigating, but the perpetrators are so far unknown. The BTU President Prof. Gesine Grande expressed deep dismay about the increasing willingness to use violence.

growing fear and social responsibility

In connection with the attacks, the BTU emphasized its responsibility for students and employees. The faculties and members of the university have expressed their solidarity with those affected. In the past few months, attacks on facilities of the left scene and youth clubs in Südbrandenburg have been repeated. Cottbus is considered the hotspot of the right scene, which is reflected in the accumulation of such attacks.

Mayor Tobias Schick (SPD) plans to talk about improved protection for such institutions in order to create an atmosphere without fear that is essential for the influx of specialists. The new Interior Minister of Brandenburg, René Wilke, has already searched the dialogue with Schick to discuss measures against increasing violence.

a worrying trend

right -wing extremist violence in Germany has increased significantly in recent years. According to estimates by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, around 32,000 people in Germany are right -wing extremist, of which 13,000 are considered to be violent. The number of right -wing extremists rose to 23,604 in 2020, with the acts of violence increasing from 986 to 1,092. This proves the increasing danger of extreme right -wing motivated attacks.

The background of such acts are often complex and show that perpetrators often radicalize on the Internet. Examples such as the attacks in Hanau or Halle illustrate the drastic consequences that can result from this radicalization. The BTU therefore not only calls for increased intervention by the security authorities, but also a general rethink in society to stop such violence and to promote a respectful, inclusive atmosphere.