Attack anniversary renews Germany’s far-right fears

Doaa Emam

An attack by members of the far-right on participants in the Oktoberfest, the world’s largest annual folk festival, in Munich in September 1980 left 13 people dead, including the attacker.

The attack was carried out after the attacker hid a bomb inside a trash basked. Two-hundred other people were injured.

This was described as the largest attack carried out by the far-right in Germany since 1945. It was masterminded by a member of the far-right who reportedly underwent an emotional problem.

More firmness

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier marked the 40th anniversary of the attack a few days ago.

He said fighting the far-right with more firmness had become an urgent matter in his country.

This is particularly true, he added, in the light of rising violence.

Steinmeier referred to conversations among what are known as Neo-Nazis among members of the police force.

Hatred networks

Steinmeier said the crimes committed by the far-right in the past years were not spurred by security loopholes.

He added that the attackers were members of what he described as “networks of hatred and violence”.

Germany, he said, has to trace these networks and fight them more firmly.

Assessing mistakes

He said the anniversary of the attack should encourage German officials to ponder the mistakes committed in the past years.

The German president noted that a small group of far-right members succeeded in launching dozens of racist attacks during the first decade of the 21st century.

Far-right

The far-right in Germany includes a large number of groups, including the Neo-Nazis and the anti-Islam group, Pegida.

The members of the far-right act against migrants and oppose the German constitution and the German in general.

They also only recognize the German empire which was founded by Adolf Hitler.

Around 25,000 people belong to far-right groups in Germany along, according to an assessment by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community.