Nationwide raids against hate postings: anti-Semitism in sight!

Nationwide raids against hate postings: anti-Semitism in sight!

A massive blow to hate online! German law enforcement authorities launched a large-scale operation on Tuesday to crack down on anti-Semitic hate posts. Over 127 police measures were carried out, including more than 50 apartment searches throughout Germany. The investigation focused on 90 cases dealing with politically motivated right-wing crime as well as foreign and religious ideology.

The searches took place in federal states such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia. Almost two thirds of the measures were based on the alarming increase in hate postings, which have more than quadrupled in recent years. In 2020, 368 anti-Semitic incidents were recorded, while in 2023 the number rose to a shocking 1,671. This development is not only worrying, but also shows that a central reporting point is uncovering the number of unreported cases online.

Increasing numbers and clear messages

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) underlined the urgency of these measures: “We must stop the spiral of hatred and violence.” She emphasizes that online hate crime is a breeding ground for radicalization and violence. Faeser calls on citizens not to accept anti-Semitic hatred and to actively report it. The numbers speak for themselves: In 2023, anti-Semitic crimes increased by 96 percent compared to the previous year, with more than half of the incidents recorded after Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th.

The situation is alarming: over 59 percent of the anti-Semitic crimes recorded can be assigned to the right-wing spectrum. Current developments in the Middle East have a direct impact on radicalization and the commission of crimes in Germany. The police are determined to send a clear message and show perpetrators that hate crime does not go without consequences.