News
"In this episode of “Financial Crime Matters,” Kieran talks with Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project about the current violent threats posed by Islamic radicals, and right-wing and left-wing extremist groups.
Drawing on his expertise as senior director of the Counter Extremism Project and years of diplomatic service, Hans names the extremist organizations that currently threaten to unleash global violence"

The Reichsbürger are not a single group. For the German secret services they are anti-state extremists. Analyst Hans Jakob Schindler [CEP Senior Director] draws a profile of them. Authorities estimate 2,000 Reichsbürger but the real number may be higher. Many have gun licenses, some are former military or members of the police force and some are ready for battle. This is the case of the group led by the self-styled Prince of Reus, dismantled in December 2022, while preparing an armed coup. 130 searches and 25 arrests, the largest anti-terrorism operation in recent history in Germany. A parallel reality that has become a concrete threat.

The case brings back memories of investigations into Russian sabotage using incendiary devices in air cargo packages. "In such actions, such as the one that has now apparently been prevented, one must ask the question of when the term 'act of sabotage' no longer suffices and one must speak of an attack on Germany," said terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler, director of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), in an interview with our editorial team.

TV interview (in German) with CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler on arrest warrant for suspected Kremlin saboteurs in Germany

Three Ukrainians are said to have agreed to carry out attacks on freight transport in Germany . The Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses them of acting as agents for the purpose of sabotage – and has had them arrested.
There is suspicion that Russian government agencies are behind the attacks. Intelligence expert Hans-Jakob Schindler from the Counter Extremism Project in New York and Berlin assesses the situation live on ZDFheute and explains Russia's tactics.

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed: “…Last year, a container burned down in a DHL logistics center in Leipzig. The trigger was a package containing an incendiary device with a time fuse. The former president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution later stated that they "narrowly avoided a plane crash." There are also repeated reports of drone flights over military territory or cyberattacks on government agencies and companies. What do we know about these low-level agents, and how is Putin using them for his own purposes? How well is Germany protected against Russian sabotage? Jessica Zahedi discusses this live on ZDFheute with intelligence expert Hans-Jakob Schindler.”

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed on the security situation in the Middle East and the visit of the U.S. President.

However, the results of a study by terrorism researcher Sofia Koller of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) suggest that many of those affected have been trying to return to Germany for years. Lydia G. is also said to have had a change of heart; she wants to return to Germany. Whether and when a trial against the IS returnee will begin is not yet known.

Blonde pigtails, blue eyes, country flair: this is how "Die Heimat", formerly the NPD, sells itself on its homepage. Its offspring, on the other hand, are aggressive, masked and openly violent. In order to win over young people from outside the party, they set up local groups with new names.

Stay up to date on our latest news.
Get the latest news on extremism and counter-extremism delivered to your inbox.