A group of teenagers, aged about 15 to 16, many with immigrant backgrounds and several girls wearing head coverings, are forced to depart at dawn from a holiday colony beside a mountain lake near Berlin. They leave under police protection after enduring a night of harassment from a small, local group of youths who were drinking. Verbal abuses escalated into noise that woke visitors as windows were tapped and knocked. Police were summoned around midnight, and the worried parents collected the group around three in the morning on Sunday, taking them home.
The incident illustrates a scene that could unfold anywhere in Brandenburg, the region surrounding Berlin dotted with scenic lakes and holiday colonies. The case drew wide media attention this week as the courtroom words and public remarks swirled. For the teenagers, the attack was frightening enough to send them back to safety, while the aggressors may view it as a badge to show off among friends.
registration number
The daily harassment described involves five individuals with far-right perspectives targeting youths in Germany, according to 2022 figures released in Berlin this week. The area is part of the historical German state that once included East and West Germany, and the numbers mark a record in attacks on minors with 520 victims, up from 288 in 2021. In addition to physical assaults, coercion, insults, or threats tied to racist or anti-Semitic motives tripled in the period under review.
Officials noted that the far-right represents a major concern for national safety. Holger Münch, head of the Federal Criminal Police Office, spoke alongside Interior Minister Nancy Faeser when presenting the political-crime statistics. Overall politically motivated crimes rose to about 60,000 in 2022, the highest level since these records began. By political background, expressions of left-wing radicalism and other movements contributed to the total, with far-right incidents accounting for roughly 41 percent and radical left incidents about 31 percent. The surge is especially evident in the eastern regions, where electoral potential appears strongest.
First power to vote
Polling data show the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as the sole far-right party with representation in the Bundestag, challenging established parties in much of the eastern states. Early reports in a popular tabloid were followed by similar surveys in other outlets. Some observers raised questions about media influence and framing, noting persistent xenophobic themes that echo in AfD rhetoric, while observers considered the response from national leaders. The political landscape in the east shows strong support for AfD, even as other regions weigh demographic factors differently.
National polls from major channels also show AfD maintaining a notable position, though CDU remains a leading force in parts of the country. The SPD and its governing coalition—comprising Greens and liberal members—continue to play a significant role, with public opinion reflecting a dynamic balance of parties. The Green party faces challenges in public perception, while liberal voices push for a broader, more inclusive agenda. Analysts note that regional variations continue to shape the overall national picture, with electoral dynamics evolving as campaigns unfold.