The German city of Dresden has declared a "Nazi emergency" as a result of what it says are threats to minorities.

City councillors passed a resolution warning anti-democratic and extremist views, as well as violence, are becoming an increasing problem in the city.

The policy statement said "anti-democratic, anti-pluralist, misanthropic and right-wing extremist attitudes and actions, including violence in Dresden, are occurring with increasing frequency", according to Deutsche Welle (DW).

Max Aschenbach, a councillor for Die Partei (The Party), which proposed the resolution, was quoted as saying: "We have a Nazi problem in Dresden and have to do something about it."

Dresden is the base for the anti-migrant group PEGIDA and the far-right is feared to be growing in numbers in the former East German city.


Alternative for Germany, a far-right party, received more than 17% of the vote in city council elections this year.

Last year, a series of far-right rallies took place in nearby Chemnitz after a German citizen was stabbed in a fight with two asylum seekers.

The region has seen a backlash against Germany's immigration policy and an increase in migrant-related crime.

Image: The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has strong support in Dresden

Last month, two people were killed by a man who live-streamed an attempted attack on a synagogue.

The resolution was supported by members of the Left Party, the environmentalist Greens, the centre-left Social Democrats, the pro-business Free Democrats, as well as Die Partei, a satirical group.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right Christian Democrats voted against the motion.