Due to the conflict in the Middle East – experts: The threat of terrorism is greater than it has been for a long time

Instead, terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda or the ‘Islamic State’ (IS) are apparently increasingly succeeding in inciting young people in particular by exploiting the civilian casualties of the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip and the humanitarian emergency in the Palestinian territory painting as part of a supposedly anti-Muslim represents the Western strategy.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is also fighting on other fronts
This development hits the domestic secret service at a time when the service says it is already under heavy pressure in other areas. The number of politically motivated crimes increased for the fourth time in a row last year and reached a new record. Raids and arrests in the environment of so-called Reich citizens and searches of the homes of violent right-wing extremists are just two examples of what else is currently occupying the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the state security departments of the police.

“We are currently facing a complex and tense threat situation resulting from parallel crises, which is exacerbated by Hamas’ barbaric crimes,” said the chairman of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang.

“The risk potential for possible terrorist attacks against Jewish and Israeli people and institutions, but also against “the West” as a whole, has increased significantly as a result,” says a current assessment by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, published on Wednesday . According to its own information, the domestic intelligence service observes calls for assassinations among jihadists and a “link” of the terrorist groups Al-Qaeda and IS in the conflict in the Middle East.

“The danger is real and greater than it has been in a long time”
Haldenwang sees, among other things, the risk of radicalization of perpetrators acting alone who attack so-called soft targets with simple means. He emphasizes: “The danger is real and greater than it has been in a long time.”

Supporters of Hamas and Hezbollah hardly attend demonstrations
Outside the jihadist spectrum, there has also been an increase in polemics that portray Muslims and Palestinians as victims of the West and in some cases clearly contain anti-Semitic contributions, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution analyzes. Supporters of Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah held back and did not appear as a group at pro-Palestinian demonstrations “because they see themselves as exposed to clear pressure from the state to persecute them.” Both groups are prohibited from operating in Germany.

In addition to Islamists, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution also considers Palestinian extremists, Turkish right-wing extremists and German and Turkish left-wing extremists as “agitators and engines of mobilization” in the current situation. The majority of participants in pro-Palestinian demonstrations are not extremists. However, extremists always manage to spread hate messages and cause escalation at such events. German right-wing extremists used the situation to rebel against Muslims and migrants. Among German left-wing extremists, some pro-Israeli and some pro-Palestinian positions are represented.

Propaganda from abroad worsens the situation
“The situation is being exacerbated by foreign state actors who are abusing this mood or even trying to strengthen it,” Haldenwang said. He does not mention specific states. This is probably mainly about propaganda and reinforcing moods that cause unrest in society.

Russia is said to be behind the spraying in Paris
In France, investigators accuse Russia of being behind the mass spraying of Stars of David on Parisian buildings in October. According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, a couple from Moldova who were arrested after the spraying operation in Paris and surrounding communities said they sprayed the Stars of David on the walls on behalf of a third party in exchange for money. Investigators found an exchange in Russian on her phone. The two detainees have been taken into custody pending deportation. According to the Public Prosecution Service, another couple who were also involved in the spraying operation left France the next day. According to surveillance camera footage, an unidentified man allegedly took photos of the spraying operation.