| | On September 3, certain German authorities said they were stepping up surveillance of the conservative Alternative for Germany amid calls by the [[liberal]] German [[establishment]] to do so.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (September 4, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/04/german-establishment-call-domestic-intelligence-spy-populists-chemnitz-protests/ German Establishment Call for Domestic Intelligence to Spy on Populists Following Chemnitz Protests]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref> Andreas Kalbitz, a member of the party's national leadership, accused the German political parties of panicking in the face of AfD's electoral success. | | On September 3, certain German authorities said they were stepping up surveillance of the conservative Alternative for Germany amid calls by the [[liberal]] German [[establishment]] to do so.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (September 4, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/04/german-establishment-call-domestic-intelligence-spy-populists-chemnitz-protests/ German Establishment Call for Domestic Intelligence to Spy on Populists Following Chemnitz Protests]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref> Andreas Kalbitz, a member of the party's national leadership, accused the German political parties of panicking in the face of AfD's electoral success. |
| − | In the first week of September, the President of Germany's domestic intelligence agency, [[Hans-Georg Maassen]], openly expressed doubts about [[Mainstream media]] reports that right-wing extremists were chasing down non-Germans during demonstrations in Chemnitz. ''"I share the skepticism towards media reports of right-wing extremists chasing down [foreigners] in Chemnitz,"'' the German Bild tabloid reported on Friday September 7.<ref>[https://www.dw.com/en/chemnitz-violence-no-evidence-far-right-chased-foreigners-says-intelligence-chief/a-45391328 Chemnitz violence: 'No evidence' far-right chased foreigners, says intelligence chief]</ref><ref>Hale, Virginia (September 8, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/08/chemnitz-evidence-anti-migrant-attacks/ Chemnitz: Intelligence Chief Says ‘No Evidence’ Anti-Migrant Attack Video Is Authentic]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref> Many residents of Chemnitz are angry about being called Nazis for engaging in peaceful protests over the lack of law enforcement and the government's immigration policies, or simply reporting crimes committed by migrants in general.<ref>https://youtu.be/SRkFsAP-h8Q</ref> | + | In the first week of September, the President of Germany's domestic intelligence agency, [[Hans-Georg Maassen]], openly expressed doubts about [[Mainstream media]] reports that right-wing extremists were chasing down non-Germans during demonstrations in Chemnitz. ''"I share the skepticism towards media reports of right-wing extremists chasing down [foreigners] in Chemnitz,"'' the German Bild tabloid reported on Friday September 7.<ref>[https://www.dw.com/en/chemnitz-violence-no-evidence-far-right-chased-foreigners-says-intelligence-chief/a-45391328 Chemnitz violence: 'No evidence' far-right chased foreigners, says intelligence chief]</ref><ref>Hale, Virginia (September 8, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/08/chemnitz-evidence-anti-migrant-attacks/ Chemnitz: Intelligence Chief Says ‘No Evidence’ Anti-Migrant Attack Video Is Authentic]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref> Many residents of Chemnitz are angry about being called Nazis for engaging in peaceful protests over the lack of law enforcement and the government's immigration policies, or simply reporting crimes committed by migrants in general.<ref>https://youtu.be/SRkFsAP-h8Q</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/5faJlhu5dmY</ref> |