Although there is currently no evidence that indicates a specific threat to Israeli or Jewish institutions, the “abstract threat situation” is high, says the BKA.
According to Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, 3,532 crimes have been registered in this context in Germany since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th. These are preliminary figures, said the SPD politician in Berlin after a visit to the Joint Counter-Terrorism Center, where the federal and state security authorities exchange information.
How many of these crimes have an anti-Semitic background can only be assessed with a time lag, said the President of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Holger Münch. So far, almost 500 clearly anti-Semitic crimes are known, with a large proportion of foreign and religious ideology. Islamism in particular falls into the category of religious ideology.
Focus in Berlin
Damage to property played a prominent role in the crimes, accounting for around 30 percent, said Münch. Incitement accounts for around 15 percent and often occurs online. “The number of violent crimes is in the mid-three-digit range. That is also high.” The focus here is on resistance crimes in connection with pro-Palestinian events, particularly in Berlin. “Here they are concentrating on the non-peaceful demonstrations.”
“We are fighting this disgusting terrorist propaganda,” said Faeser. Channels belonging to Hamas and its supporters would be blocked. The BKA has already issued and implemented the removal of channels on the Telegram messaging service 98 times. In addition, more than 500 deletion requests have been sent to online providers since October 7th. “Here too, terrorist propaganda has largely been deleted.”
Authorities assume a “high abstract risk situation”.
Münch emphasized: “The potential for escalation is great.” There are currently no findings that indicate a specific threat to Israeli or Jewish institutions, but the authorities are assuming a “high abstract threat level.”
There has been a 47 percent increase in anti-Semitic crimes in the past four years, said Münch. For many years, right-wing politically motivated violence made up a large part of this, but there is currently “a very, very strong increase” in the proportion of crimes related to foreign or religious ideology.
According to Münch, there are currently around 500 Islamist threats. More dangerous are people whom the authorities believe will commit the most serious politically motivated crimes, including attacks. There are currently around 70 right-wing extremist threats, plus people from other categories. But not everyone is in Germany and at large. “Then the number will be reduced significantly.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
