German police arrest teenage neo-Nazis for alleged attacks on migrants
Guardian1 day
German Police Arrest Five Teenagers in Suspected Right-Wing Plot
Above: Police officers search a house as five suspects are arrested in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Hesse on May 21, 2025. Image copyright: Frank Hammerschmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Far-right violence is surging in Germany, now behind nearly half of all political crimes in 2024. From racist attacks to antisemitic hate, extremists are spreading fear while falsely claiming victimhood. This growing threat to democracy demands urgent action. Claims of two-tier policing are completely unfounded and are merely an attempt to distract the public from a worrying national trend.
Right narrative
Claims of a rising far-right threat in Germany are overblown. Isolated incidents do not signal a mass movement. Labeling dissenting views as "extremism" only inflames division and distracts from deeper policy failures. True threats should be dealt with firmly, but inflating the danger of right-wing violence risks stifling debate and turning free speech into collateral damage.