Riots

In a national terrorism bulletin warning, the US Department of Homeland Security warned of heightened domestic terror threat across the United States following the attacks on the US capitol on January 6.

"Throughout 2020, Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs) targeted individuals with opposing views engaged in First Amendment-protected, non-violent protest activity. DVEs motivated by a range of issues, including anger over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force have plotted and on occasion carried out attacks against government facilities," the bulletin read. "DHS is concerned these same drivers to violence will remain through early 2021 and some DVEs may be emboldened by the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. to target elected officials and government facilities."

After the riots in Stuttgart, a voice message with racist content by a police officer appeared on social networks. The official describes the events in Stuttgart city center and draws a direct parallel to refugee policy and migrants. The police have confirmed the authenticity and have initiated an internal investigation against a known police officer.

Christian Pfeiffer, the criminologist and former SPD Minister of Justice of Lower Saxony, sees the corona restrictions as a possible cause for the riots in Stuttgart. Pent-up anger from the contact restrictions and frustration are apparently the cause of the events, but not political motives.