This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Political extremism rose sharply in Germany last year – among far-right but also far-left and Islamist radical groups – the domestic intelligence agency has said.

“Extremist groups, whatever their orientation, are gaining ground in Germany,” said the interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere, presenting the report into 2015. The security agency had “observed not just a rise in membership but also an increase in violence and brutality,” he said in a statement.

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In 2015, 1,408 acts of far-right violence were recorded, against 990 the previous year, said the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

The sharp rise in racist hate crimes came as Germany took in a record number of more than 1 million refugees and migrants asking for political asylum, and as jihadi attacks in Paris and Brussels stoked terrorism fears in Europe.

“The intensity of right-wing extremist militancy started in early 2015 and increased steadily – from threats against politicians and journalists to arson attacks on asylum-seeker shelters, and attempted killings,” said the report.

There were 75 arson attacks against refugee shelters in Germany, five times more than 2014. The report said that online “social networks play an important role in agitation and radicalisation”, as uninhibited hate speech dehumanises minorities and fuels real-world violent crime.

Far-left acts of violence – often targeting far-right activists or police – also rose sharply, to 1,608 violent offences from 995 the previous year, said the report.