Criminologist: Offenders can be receptive to help
According to Giessen criminologist Britta Bannenberg, potential lone offenders with extremist or other radical fantasies of violence may well be open to help. "If they have not yet acted or can still be stopped, then they are definitely receptive," said the expert in a dpa interview. With support, a lot can be changed and averted. "And I think that's very important for our society," said the professor at Justus Liebig University.
This week, possible attack plans by an 18-year-old suspected right-wing extremist from Hesse came to light. The man was remanded in custody. The planned attack was stopped at the initial stage, explained Interior Minister Peter Beuth (CDU). According to the investigating authorities, the 18-year-old had repeatedly threatened in relevant forums to kill people in pursuit of his political goals. There was no mention of possible accomplices or a network in the statement from the State Office of Criminal Investigation and the public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt; corresponding questions remained unanswered.
"Lone offenders are not only behaviorally conspicuous, but also mentally conspicuous", explained criminologist Bannenberg. "They can't get a grip on their lives and react very destructively and irrationally." However, if they are approached about their violence and killing fantasies, they are often receptive to help and support.
According to the expert, potential lone offenders spend most of their time on the internet. "That's where the radicalization comes from, which then intensifies," said Bannenberg. "They search the internet for hate, death and violence in all its facets." Fortunately, there is "a huge gap" between those who rant about violence in forums, for example, and those who actually prepare an act and then strike out.
The fact that the police become aware of dangerous offenders in time is sometimes "luck and coincidence", sometimes there are also important clues from the social environment, said Bannenberg. For example, when someone becomes aware of threats in chats and social media, or strange behavior in real life.
The Amok Prevention Advisory Network at the University of Giessen not only receives information about possible perpetrators of amok, but also about possible extremists who may be planning something as lone terrorists. "And we very often involve the police in consultation with the reporters," reported the professor. "So it's by no means just schools and young perpetrators, but actually much more often adults who have strange experiences with either customers or employees at the employment agency, job centers, companies or authorities, for example."
The whistleblowers are often afraid to call the police directly. "They don't want to suspect the wrong person, so to speak, who is just making wild comments," said the professor. However, the whistleblowers are often afraid that they could be the first target and therefore want to be reassured.
In light of the rise of extremist ideas online, it's crucial to address the issue of potential lone extremist offenders. As Bannenberg emphasizes, these individuals, often consumed by hate and violence-related content on the internet, can be receptive to help and intervention before they escalate to harmful actions. However, crime and extremism are complex issues, and more research and support are needed to effectively identify and assist these individuals early on.
Source: www.dpa.com
