Brandenburg schools receive threatening bomb messages
In a concerning turn of events, several schools in the German state of Brandenburg received bomb threats via email on September 10, 2022. The schools affected are located in Brandenburg an der Havel, Potsdam, and Kleinmachnow (Postdam-Mittelmark).
The investigation into these threats has revealed a chilling connection to a 17-year-old neo-Nazi who was arrested in Potsdam in June 2022. This teenager was preparing right-wing terrorist attacks, had obtained instructions for making weapons and explosives, built explosive devices, and conducted explosive tests.
The Brandenburg Public Prosecutor's Office has charged him with preparing a serious act of violence dangerous to the state, violating explosives laws, and using symbols of unconstitutional organizations. The evidence found at his residence and business premises points to his involvement in the bomb threats.
The extremist activities of this individual seem connected to the far-right Atomwaffen Division network in Germany, a group linked to multiple violent incidents and plots, including bomb threats and other hate crimes. The motives behind these threats align with neo-Nazi and right-wing extremist ideologies aiming to terrorize communities and promote their agenda through violence or intimidation.
All emails received by the schools in Brandenburg came from the same sender. The content of the emails was consistent across all schools, stating that explosive devices had been placed in the school buildings. The schools took the threats seriously and quickly informed the police, who are involved in the ongoing investigation to determine the motive behind the threats.
The deputy head of the Brandenburg an der Havel school authority, Christof Kürschner, confirmed that the schools were given the all-clear later in the day. The schools cater to elementary, secondary, and high school students. Despite this incident, the investigation is ongoing to identify the sender of the bomb threats.
It's important to note that this incident in Brandenburg is not an isolated case in recent weeks in Germany. Schools in Hamburg, Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt also received threats via email in recent weeks, but no suspicious findings were reported on site. The police are involved in the investigation of these threats as well.
The authorities urge vigilance and prompt reporting of any suspicious activities to ensure the safety of our communities and schools.
Politics surrounding the Brandenburg bomb threats has led to increased scrutiny of right-wing extremist groups, with the investigation into the threats revealing a 17-year-old neo-Nazi's involvement in preparing terrorist attacks. The general-news story of the bomb threats also highlights the connection of this individual to the far-right Atomwaffen Division network, a group known for various violent incidents and plots, including bomb threats and hate crimes.
