War as a fire accelerator: Constitutional protection report: significantly more extremists at a glance

The protection of the constitution had significantly more extremists and spies in view in 2024 than in previous years. This has to do with the Russian attack war in Ukraine. But it also has to be used with the escalation in the Middle East and the strengthening of the AfD.

As can be seen from the annual report of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BFV), both right -wing extremists and “Reichsbürger” and left -wing extremist groups are currently increasing. The constitutional protectors observe a dangerous trend reversal in the Islamist scene.

As many right -wing extremists as 25 years ago

The fact that domestic intelligence agency is observed by around 23 percent to 50,250 people within a year also has to do with the AfD’s increase in membership. According to the annual report, which Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and BFV Vice President Sinan Selen together in Berlin, 20,000 members of the AfD were assigned to the right-wing extremist personal potential last year.

In 2024, the Protection of the Constitution observed the AfD as a suspected case. The classification of the party as secure right -wing extremist endeavor this spring is the subject of a legal discussion. The protection of the constitution has submitted a so -called standstill commitment here – until a decision by the Cologne Administrative Court.

According to its own statements, the party had 50,000 members in November. The constitutional protection report states: “With regard to its political and social effects and the number of members, the relevant actor within the right -wing extremist or right -wing extremism spectrum represents.” The party has a “hinge function” in the right -wing extremist spectrum. Certain topics would be taken up by the party and “converted into the saying”. Dobrindt says: “In my view, it is clear that the AfD also creates a mood and a situation that promotes the polarization of our society.”

Over 15,000 violent right -wing extremists

In 2000, the number of right -wing extremists recorded by the protection of the constitution was 50,900 people. At that time, however, the proportion of right -wing extremists who were considered violent was less than today.

The number of right -wing extremists who are assessed by the constitutional protection as violent -oriented increased again last year – around 800 people – to 15,300.

According to Selen, the protection of the constitution observes both right -wing extremism and Islamism that children and adolescents are increasingly radicalizing themselves, who are then relatively quick to act and even exercise violence.

The protection of the constitution also sees a growth in the so -called “imperial citizens” and self -governing. According to the report, the personal potential of 1,000 people floats to around 26,000 people. The Federal Republic of Germany does not recognize “imperial citizens” as a state. They also do not recognize democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They do not want to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines.

Last year, the number of people who classified the protection of the constitution as the “state protection -relevant delegitimator of the state” easily decreased. Around 1,500 people were assigned to this category in 2024, after 1,600 “delegitiments” the year before.

Dangerous trend reversal among the Islamists

After a slight decline in previous years, the protection of the constitution currently sees slight growth in Islamist groups. The potential for Islamism rose by almost four percent to 28,280 people.

The security authority estimates that violence -oriented Islamist personal potential, which is first shown in this annual report, is 9,540 people.

Fire accelerator Middle East conflict

Both in the Islamist scene and in the area of ​​”foreign extremism”, the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip made it easier for the various groups to recruit new followers. In the right scene, the protection of the constitution observed an instrumentalization of the Middle East conflict to spread “anti-migration and anti-Semitic positions”.

The left -wing scene is divided into the question, says domestic secret service. In his annual report it says: “Autonomous left -wing extremists represented less public positions, anti -imperialist and dogmatic left -wing extremists more clearly visible and in the majority of propalestinic positions.”

The number of left -wing extremist left grew in 2024 to around 38,000 extremist leftists in 2024. With the left -wing extremists with 11,200 extremists at the level of the previous year, the left -wing extremists.

The domestic intelligence agency warns: “When the radicalization of individual persons or structures is moved unhindered, a new left -wing terrorism could arise in Germany, which should be directed against the state and the police in particular against” fascists “, but could also lead to further violence.”

Russian espionage and sabotage

According to the protection of the constitution, the references to possible sabotage incidents increased significantly in 2024. Overall, incidents such as attempts or arson, vandalism, spying and propaganda activities were noticed in Europe, which are or could be due to Russian intelligence services.

According to the information, the activities are implemented in particular by so-called low-level agents. These hand stores, which are colloquially referred to as “disposable”, are not trained intelligence officers, but are hired for certain operations.