Sociologist Quent: There is a militant mass movement

In view of the arrest of five suspected members of a right-wing terrorist group, extremism researcher Matthias Quent once again sees a militant mass movement among young people with links to National Socialism. The professor of sociology at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences told the German press agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur that police crime statistics are currently at an all-time high for right-wing motivated violence.

In the past two years in particular, this trend has become increasingly visible. "Terrorist structures and groups that condone and prepare violence have emerged on social networks."

Commonalities with the AfD

Ideologically, Quent sees similarities with the AfD. "Whenever a radical political direction has a tailwind, even more radical flanks develop that feel legitimized to go one step further." There is the idea that the country is doomed and that they themselves are the last resort.

"It's this nationalist cultural pessimism and the paranoid idea that Germany must be saved from its supposed demise, which you also hear in the AfD," said the academic. At the same time, there are also divisions within the movement because some people do not see the AfD's means as sufficient.

The Federal Public Prosecutor General is taking action against a group of young people who are allegedly members of a right-wing extremist terrorist cell. Five suspects were arrested this morning in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hesse in a police operation against an association calling itself the "Last Wave of Defense".

Multiple reasons for radicalization

According to Quent, there are always increases in right-wing violence and threats in waves. There have already been terrorist groups in recent years. So-called Reichsbürger were generally older. However, there have also been perpetrators acting alone, such as the assassin at the synagogue in Halle or the assassin in Hanau.

Quent criticized the financial pressure on prevention work and political education. The projects and resources are precariously financed, and funding is sometimes cut for political reasons. Obviously, however, at least the authorities were close, he said, referring to the current case.