Far-right violence up in Germany

BERLIN, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Members of groups trying to fight the German right wing say that the Internet has helped spur an increase in extremist violence.

Martin Schneider, 18, is a member of "Students Against Right-wing Extremism" in Cologne. He told Deutsche Welle that right-wing groups use Facebook and other networking sites to reach out to teenagers.

"Nearly everyone can create a Web site, while covering up their own tracks," he said. "It's very easy to promote things which cannot be checked."

Anne Broden, head of the anti-racism center in Dusseldorf, said that teens seeking friends and thrills can find them on right-wing sites. For example, there are secret concerts where text messages alert sympathizers to the time and place at the last moment.

During the past year, crime motivated by right-wing politics increased more than 30 percent. Alois Mannichl, police chief in Passau, was stabbed and seriously wounded recently, allegedly by a neo-Nazi.

Broden and others have organized a network of social workers, psychologists and teachers to help parents who fear their children getting sucked in. The names of those involved have not been released for fear they might become targets.