Dresden declares 'Nazi emergency' as extremist violence increases
2 November 2019, 14:44
The German city of Dresden has declared a "Nazi emergency" as a result of "extremist attitudes and actions, including violence in Dresden, occurring with increasing frequency".
A resolution has been passed in Dresden declaring a "Nazi emergency" due to what it says are increased threats to minorities.
City councillors warned that anti-democratic and extremist views and violence are becoming an increasing problem in the city.
The policy statement said: "Anti-democratic, anti-pluralist, misanthropic and right-wing extremist attitudes and actions, including violence in Dresden, are occurring with increasing frequency".
The resolution was proposed by Die Partei, and Councillor Max Aschenbach was quoted in local media as saying: "We have a Nazi problem in Dresden and have to do something about it."
Dresden has been the base for the anti-migrant group PEGIDA for some time.
The far right party Alternative for Germany received more than 17% of the vote in the Dresden city council elections this year.
The region has seen violence as protestors clash over Germany's immigration policy.
Last year, a series of far-right rallies took place in nearby Chemnitz after a German citizen was stabbed in a fight with two asylum seekers.
Last month, two people were killed by a man who live-streamed an attempted attack on a synagogue.
