Brandenburg Police Union Chief Anita Kirsten Warns of Rising Far-Right Youth Radicalization
Brandenburg faces surge in far-right youth violence as offenders grow younger
Potsdam (dpa/bb) — The Police Union (GdP) in Brandenburg is sounding the alarm over an increasingly uninhibited far-right youth scene, marked by growing brutality and a diminishing threshold for violence, according to the state chair, Anita Kirsten. "This trend demands a clear and united response from law enforcement, politicians, and society as a whole," she stated.
Kirsten noted a troubling shift: counter-protests—such as those at Pride events—are now being led predominantly by very young individuals, some of whom are acting aggressively. A key issue, she explained, is that far-right groups have deliberately tailored their messaging to appeal to adolescents in recent years. This development poses significant challenges for police, "especially when those involved are below the age of criminal responsibility."
Police Union Calls for Closer Cooperation with Schools
Attacks on public events—like the incident last year in Bad Freienwalde—are particularly alarming and must be unequivocally condemned, Kirsten emphasized. To address the problem, she urged stronger preventive measures, including a more visible police presence to deter potential disruptors. She also stressed the need for early outreach, educational initiatives, and closer collaboration between law enforcement, schools, and youth services to engage young people before radicalization takes hold.
"Politically motivated crime is changing its face," Brandenburg Police President Oliver Stepien recently warned in Potsdam. Offenders are getting younger, more digitally savvy, and more prone to violence. Last year, far-right violent crimes in the state rose by 32 cases to a total of 145—a 28.3% increase. Stepien described the trend as a "serious threat."
Interior Minister Pushes to Lower Age of Criminal Responsibility
Interior Minister Jan Redmann (CDU) is advocating for Germany to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 12, arguing that the juvenile justice system should be able to impose educational measures on 12- and 13-year-olds.
Under current law, the age of criminal responsibility is 14, meaning children below that age cannot be held legally accountable, even for serious offenses. The debate centers on whether young individuals are deemed mature enough to understand the wrongfulness of their actions.
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