Political violence will not be tolerated in Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday after a series of attacks on politicians.
“Whether it is violence directed against left-wing, centrist or right-wing democratic politicians, it is always unacceptable and will not be tolerated by us,” the chancellor said as he addressed an economic forum in the eastern German city of Bad Saarow, southern Africa. east of Berlin.
“We will act against all those who try to use violence to restrict democratic space,” he added, regardless of whether the violence is motivated by left-wing radicalism, right-wing extremism or Islamism.
Scholz warned all perpetrators of political violence. “Don’t underestimate us. We are a democratic state. We will not tolerate it and will act against you with all the options provided by the law,” he said.
Scholz referred to renewed cases of political violence in Germany in recent days, including a knife attack during an anti-Islamic event in the western city of Mannheim on Friday. He noted that a police officer, one of seven people injured in the attack, remains in critical condition.
The chancellor also highlighted an attack on a lawmaker at an election stand in the southern city of Aalen on Saturday.
