Alarming increase: young people in Lower Saxony on an extremist course!

Alarming increase: young people in Lower Saxony on an extremist course!

There is a worrying development in Lower Saxony: The security authorities are observing growing Islamist radicalization among young people. At a specialist conference on Monday in Hanover, intensive discussions were held on how young people can be protected from extremist influences. Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) expressed specific concerns about the recruiting methods of extremists who cleverly use the Middle East conflict for their own purposes. This conflict not only influences the political landscape, but is also used as leverage by radicalizers to gain new followers. For Behrens, Germany is a potential attack target, particularly because of its support for Israel, which increases the threat level. This was also confirmed by the President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Dirk Pejril, who assessed the risk of Islamist attacks as high.

The numbers are alarming: In Lower Saxony, around 1,200 to 1,300 people are active in the Islamist scene, although the number is stagnating. Around 600 Salafists are particularly prone to violence. This radicalization has remained a challenge in recent years that needs to be overcome - not only for the security authorities, but also for schools and youth workers. Interior Minister Behrens has therefore called for their support in order to carry out prevention work effectively. She emphasized that the environment of young people at risk, especially their parents, plays a crucial role in the fight against radicalization.

Radicalization as a global phenomenon

Andreas Zick from Bielefeld University describes radicalization as a phenomenon that is taking on global dimensions. Unstable youth are painfully given a voice, often through online channels that spread extremist content. The Internet plays a crucial role in spreading propaganda that appeals to the youth and leads them into dangerous echo chambers. The increasing violent crime among young people is another worrying aspect: the number of suspected young people up to the age of 17 has increased by almost a third since 2019.

A particularly frightening incident recently occurred in North Rhine-Westphalia, where two teenagers, 15 and 17 years old, were involved in a planned attack on a Christmas market. They identified themselves with the terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS) and planned to kill as many people as possible with a truck. Fortunately, they were arrested two days before their attack after they were noticed through internet chats. Their origins in Afghanistan and the autonomous Russian republic of Chechnya show how international the problem of radicalization is.

The role of prevention

The organization “Violence Prevention Network” (VPN) has been dedicated to de-radicalization for over 20 years. Managing director Thomas Mücke emphasizes the need for a dialogue with young people. However, a high recidivism rate among radicalized young people poses a challenge. Of 431 “high-risk people” in the last ten years, only two have relapsed. However, the distance between young people and adults often remains emotionally stuck, making it more difficult to offer these young people a positive perspective.

In addition, investigators visited apartments in twelve federal states because of the spread of Islamist content by young people. It is clear that society is also required to take steps towards prevention. Nils Becker has been appointed as the central contact person at the Dialogue Center for Strengthening Democracy and Preventing Extremism, whose task is now to build bridges and protect the generation of tomorrow from the dangerous temptations of extremist ideologies.

Overall, there is an urgent need for action to protect young people from radicalization and to create a safe environment for their development. Cooperation between security authorities, schools, social institutions and society is crucial. It is important to recognize the signs in good time and minimize the risks so that young people can look forward to a peaceful future with strength.