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There were problems in court. Time and time again, disruptors had to be removed from the room. Among other things, they shouted “pork justice”. After the verdict, the black bloc of the left scene in Leipzig, Berlin and Hamburg took to the streets. The police had to intervene and skirmishes broke out.
Reason for outrage: the verdict against Lina E.* (28). The student was sentenced to five years and three months in prison on Wednesday for multiple attacks on right-wing extremists. Three co-defendants were sentenced to three years and three months in prison.
The court considered it proven that between 2018 and 2020 the suspects were involved in, or at least supported, several raids on (alleged) neo-Nazis in Wurzen, Leipzig and Eisenach in Thuringia. Several people were injured, some seriously.
“Bye X demo” announced for Saturday
Wednesday night’s riots were apparently just the beginning. After the verdict, the security authorities fear a new wave of violence. On an internet portal classified as left-wing extremist, autonomous groups threatened millions in property damage for every year of imprisonment.
For this Saturday, the left-wing scene is calling for a “Day X Demo” across the country in Leipzig. The police expect a “partly disturbing course with a high damage potential” and are preparing for a large-scale operation. It remains to be seen whether the fact that Lina E. is now free will defuse the situation. In fact, the student is not in prison. The young woman, who has been detained for two and a half years, was allowed to leave prison under conditions until the sentence is final.
Left-wing extremist violence has been an increasing problem in Germany for years. The security authorities have been observing the radicalization of individual small groups for some time now.
Parallels with the RAF
According to the 2021 Constitution Protection Report, left-wing extremist attacks would be “more targeted and professional”. The victims would be “attacked with great aggression in their private or professional environment”.
According to the constitutional protectors, some perpetrators act so brutally that they also accept the possible death of the victims. According to information from “Spiegel”, the federal investigation even sees parallels with the former terrorist group Rote Armee Fraktion (RAF).
E. has become a symbol
The scene now sees violence as a legitimate tool against right-wing extremists, because they believe the state is failing. Despite all the understandable criticism of the prosecution of right-wing crimes, the monopoly on the use of force still lies with the state, emphasizes judge Hans Schlueter-Staats, who pronounced the verdict against Lina E. Protecting this is “an elementary basis” of a democratic society.
Together with Berlin and Hamburg, Leipzig is a focal point for violent left-wing extremism. Again and again, police officers are attacked here, construction vehicles or cars set on fire. E. is now considered a symbolic figure for alleged state repression in the scene. (AFP/jmh)
* Name known
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
