Rise in far-right extremists seen in Germany last year

Authorities in Germany say the number of far-right extremists in the country increased last year as neo-Nazis sought to join protests against pandemic-related restrictions

BERLIN -- Authorities in Germany said Tuesday that the number of far-right extremists in the country increased last year as neo-Nazis sought to join protests against pandemic-related restrictions. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said authorities counted 33,300 far-right extremists in 2020, an increase of almost 4% from the previous year. “Far-right extremists were repeatedly able to protest side-by-side” with non-extremist opponents of the pandemic restrictions, Seehofer said. The minister added that it was worrying how the protesters often didn't distance themselves from the far-right extremists marching among them.