- The Minister of Interior Affairs Maintains Elevated Threat Level from ISIS
Following the lethal knife attack in Solingen, Hesse's Interior Minister has highlighted the persistent potential threat of terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State (IS). Reflecting on his state, CDU politician Roman Poseck mentioned: "Last year, there were 146 Islamist criminal offenses, contrasted to 27 the year prior. That's a rise of more than fourfold."
In Hesse, there's a lingering fear of terrorist attacks, although no concrete clues suggest an imminent assault. The CDU politician found the recent achievements of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Eastern Germany's elections on Sunday to be troubling.
During the presentation of the Hessian Office for the Protection of the Constitution report 2023 in Wiesbaden, the Interior Minister emphasized that Islamism poses a danger to democracy. Consequently, its suppression is a top priority for Hessian security forces.
Among other measures, the ban on the Center for Islamic Culture in Frankfurt in July served as a significant decree from the rule of law. In North Rhine-Westphalia's Solingen, a suspected Islamist Syrian murdered three individuals on August 23 and left eight others injured by stabbing.
Extreme-right crimes also experienced a substantial surge.
The Interior Ministry also concentrates on extreme-right extremism: The number of extreme-right criminal and violent acts rose by 394 to 1,445 incidents compared to the previous year. That's a 37% increase - a ten-year high.
Poseck cautioned: "The stats are highly concerning and indicate that extreme-right extremism poses the most significant threat to our free democratic fundamental order. Every second extreme-right extremist in Hesse is violence-oriented."
Based on Poseck's analysis, the "escalating radicalization" of the AfD, which has recently secured victories in the state elections in Thuringia and Saxony, is contributing to this. The Hessian Interior Minister recalled that this party is classified as firmly extreme-right in both states. Their latest election triumphs are "very concerning." He perceives a potential danger that the nation is approaching a critical tipping point of democracy.
Merge of various high-risk trends
The Christian Democrat emphasized that all threats to the constitution ought to be taken equally seriously. At present, there's an "exceptionally high merge of various high-risk trends." Poseck added: "Concentrating on combating Islamism does not imply neglecting extreme-right extremism; the same applies in reverse."
In light of the rising number of extreme-right criminal offenses in Hessen, the Interior Ministry is also focusing on combating extreme-right extremism. According to Hesse's Interior Minister, the Center for Islamic Culture in Frankfurt was banned as a significant measure against Islamist threats in July.
