In Germany, both right-wing and left-wing extremism are reportedly on the rise, with a noticeable increase in youth participation.

These trends have raised significant concerns within the German government, particularly regarding the influence of foreign actors.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has identified right-wing extremism as Germany's foremost challenge.

Dobrindt, who has been in office for only five weeks, presented a report detailing the findings of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution for the year 2024. He highlighted a chart demonstrating the increase in the number of individuals in Germany who openly express right-wing extremist views.

This number, which stood at approximately 20,000 a decade ago, has more than doubled to over 50,000 in 2024, indicating a significant rise.

The minister noted that about 14,500 of these individuals are assessed to be willing to engage in violent actions.

In a high-profile operation in mid-May, five members of an alleged right-wing extremist terrorist group known as the 'Last Wave of Defense' were arrested across five federal states.

Experts believe this group currently represents one of the most radical factions among right-wing extremists.

Alarmingly, one of the arrested individuals was merely 14 years old, and the group was reportedly planning attacks on refugee accommodations.

According to Dobrindt, the trend of young individuals rapidly radicalizing is not limited to the right-wing spectrum.

He cited daily occurrences of attacks against the state, attributing some of these actions to significant increases in disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks perpetrated by Russian actors.

Since Russia's military actions in Ukraine began in the spring of 2022, foreign influences have increasingly targeted young Germans.

Sinan Selen, the deputy president of Germany's domestic intelligence agency, remarked on the growing phenomenon of 'low level agents' who are mostly young individuals often lacking in ideological formation and quickly radicalized.

In addition to right-wing extremism, the report noted an uptick in left-wing extremist groups, rising minimally from 37,000 to 38,000 members.

Islamic extremism is also experiencing a resurgence in Germany.

The domestic intelligence agency now estimates that the potential for violent Islamist actions encompasses around 28,000 individuals, with nearly 10,000 categorized as ready to commit violence.

Organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah are purportedly targeting youth for recruitment, and the Islamic State (IS) has become increasingly active in Germany, particularly following the onset of conflict in Gaza after Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023.

Selen elaborated that IS has successfully integrated themes related to the Middle East and Palestine into its radicalization narratives, thereby influencing a new generation of young people.

Despite the rising concerns across various forms of extremism, Dobrindt maintains that right-wing extremism is the largest problem facing Germany.

He noted that approximately 20,000 individuals identified as openly right-wing extremist are members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is currently the strongest opposition party in the Bundestag.

The domestic intelligence agency has classified the AfD as a confirmed right-wing extremist party, although it has recently refrained from using this designation due to ongoing legal actions taken by the party against such descriptions.

When questioned about the potential for banning the AfD, Dobrindt indicated his belief that engaging in political debates and working to politically marginalize the party is a more effective approach, rather than pursuing a ban that could be complex and uncertain in its outcome.

Since its establishment in 2013, the AfD has increasingly radicalized and garnered greater electoral support, complicating efforts by traditional parties to counter its influence.