Two arrested over far-right arson and threats in Berlin
Two men have been arrested over a series of
arson and threats in Berlin in what investigators believe are far-right
motivated crimes, prosecutors in the German capital said Wednesday.
At least 72 cases of arson targeting cars or threats were recorded between 2016 and 2018 in Berlin's Neukölln district.
The attacks were aimed at left-leaning activists or volunteers helping
refugees.
Berlin police "carried out arrest warrants today against two suspects,"
said prosecutors in a tweet, adding that the operation related to a "series of suspected extreme right motivated violations in Berlin-Neukölln".
Authorities did not name the two suspects but they were identified as
Sebastian T. and Tilo P. by Tagesspiegel daily.
Ferat Kocak, a local politician from the Left party whose car went up in
flames at night in 2018, said he was afraid despite the arrests.
"Fear that they will be free again. Fear that they will carry out an act of
revenge," he wrote on Twitter.
Einige Gedanken zur Festnahme der „Verdächtigen“ des rechten Terrors in #Neukölln ...
1. Während sich alle freuen, dass die Täter in Haft sind, habe ich Angst. Angst, dass sie wieder frei kommen. Angst, dass es zu einem Racheakt kommt.
— Ferat Ali Kocak (@der_neukoellner) December 23, 2020
Europe's biggest economy has been hit by a string of far-right attacks over the last 18 months, leading Interior Minister Seehofer to point to far-right extremism as the "biggest security threat facing Germany".
Among a string of far-right terrorist attacks that have shocked Germany are the assassination of pro-refugee politician Walter Lübcke at his home in June 2019 and the murder in the western city of Hanau of nine people of migrant origin in February.
READ ALSO: After Hanau: How can Germany deal with extreme far-right terror?
Comments
See Also
At least 72 cases of arson targeting cars or threats were recorded between 2016 and 2018 in Berlin's Neukölln district.
The attacks were aimed at left-leaning activists or volunteers helping
refugees.
Berlin police "carried out arrest warrants today against two suspects,"
said prosecutors in a tweet, adding that the operation related to a "series of suspected extreme right motivated violations in Berlin-Neukölln".
Authorities did not name the two suspects but they were identified as
Sebastian T. and Tilo P. by Tagesspiegel daily.
Ferat Kocak, a local politician from the Left party whose car went up in
flames at night in 2018, said he was afraid despite the arrests.
"Fear that they will be free again. Fear that they will carry out an act of
revenge," he wrote on Twitter.
Einige Gedanken zur Festnahme der „Verdächtigen“ des rechten Terrors in #Neukölln ...
— Ferat Ali Kocak (@der_neukoellner) December 23, 2020
1. Während sich alle freuen, dass die Täter in Haft sind, habe ich Angst. Angst, dass sie wieder frei kommen. Angst, dass es zu einem Racheakt kommt.
Europe's biggest economy has been hit by a string of far-right attacks over the last 18 months, leading Interior Minister Seehofer to point to far-right extremism as the "biggest security threat facing Germany".
Among a string of far-right terrorist attacks that have shocked Germany are the assassination of pro-refugee politician Walter Lübcke at his home in June 2019 and the murder in the western city of Hanau of nine people of migrant origin in February.
READ ALSO: After Hanau: How can Germany deal with extreme far-right terror?
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.