Corona pandemic: Seehofer warns of radicalized “lateral thinkers”

After the act of violence in Idar-Oberstein, Federal Interior Minister Seehofer warns of a radicalization of the “lateral thinker” scene. He is supported by several state interior ministries: They observe a growing propensity for violence.

After the fatal shot in a dispute over the mask requirement in Idar-Oberstein, Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer warns of a radicalization of the “lateral thinkers” movement in Germany. “The politically motivated violence in Germany by lateral thinkers is dangerous for our country,” said Seehofer of the “Bild am Sonntag” according to a preliminary report. “The group of lateral thinkers is getting smaller and smaller, but unfortunately also more and more radical and brutal. They can decompose our country if the rule of law does not fight them with all possible means.”

Harsh punishments even for those who advocate such acts

Seehofer called for harsh punishments for the perpetrators and their supporters: “The perpetrators and those who support crimes such as those in Idar-Oberstein must be severely punished.”

The security authorities of several federal states are also observing the potential danger with concern, according to a preliminary report by the Funke media group to all 16 interior ministries. The interior ministries of Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia are warning of a radicalization of the anti-corona protests.

Authorities see growing violence

Individual interior authorities see a growing willingness to use violence in the scene of the so-called “Corona deniers”, including Brandenburg and Rhineland-Palatinate. Lower Saxony reported “demands for a government overthrow” in the scene. The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Baden-Württemberg sees a potential danger in particular from extremist conspiracy ideologies such as “QAnon”, which in turn are scattered by “numerous” actors from the “lateral thinkers” movement.