Germany: The Fires of Hatred

Neo-Nazis and right-wing extremists create political unease by launching a spate of anti-foreigner attacks

Germany celebrated the first anniversary of unification last week, but the day will be remembered more for the fires that burned across the country than for the holiday fireworks. On the Baltic island of Rugen, right-wing extremists razed a center for asylum seekers. In the northern city of Bremen, a hostel for foreigners was firebombed. Shelters were also torched in Karlsruhe in the southwest and in Dusseldorf in the northwest, where two Lebanese children were severely burned. Altogether there were at least 16 attacks on foreigners within a 24-hour span, rounding off a three-week reign of terror.

It was the worst...

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