Berlin authorities apprehended a known far-right extremist, identified as Dan E., at the end of September following threats to carry out a mass casualty attack targeting foreigners. The incident, reported by the “Tagesspiegel”, raises serious questions about the monitoring of radicalized individuals and the potential for escalating extremist violence within Germany.
Dan E., a former regional figure within the now-dissolved “Die Rechte” party, has been active in far-right circles for over a decade, including involvement in the Munich chapter of the anti-Islamization movement PEGIDA roughly ten years ago. Recent months saw him associating with a young neo-Nazi and his violently inclined group in Berlin, escalating concerns amongst security services.
According to sources cited by the “Tagesspiegel”, Dan E. reportedly voiced his intentions within a therapeutic facility in Kreuzberg, detailing a plan to murder numerous foreigners before intentionally provoking a “suicide by cop” scenario – seeking to be killed by police to be glorified as a martyr in the extremist cause. He reportedly cited Norwegian far-right terrorist Anders Breivik as inspiration for the planned attack.
The Berlin police acted swiftly upon receiving the threat, deploying a Special Operations Unit (SEK) to detain Dan E. A prohibited knife was discovered in his possession during the arrest. Following a request from the public prosecutor’s office, Dan E. was brought before a judge and subsequently placed in a psychiatric hospital under provisional detention.
Investigations are currently underway, centering on charges including disturbing public peace through the threat of committing crimes, blackmailing and violating weapons laws. A crucial element of the ongoing inquiry hinges on a psychiatric evaluation, the results of which are anticipated to provide deeper insight into Dan E.’s mental state and the potential for future risk.
The case throws into sharp relief the challenges faced by German authorities in tracking and managing individuals with extremist ideologies, particularly those undergoing therapy and potentially exhibiting signs of escalating radicalization. It also sparks renewed debate surrounding the glorification of terrorist acts within far-right circles and the need for preventative measures to counter such influences.