Lauterbach said in statements reported Sunday by local media, that through social networks and in other ways he receives constant intimidating messages from members of United Patriots, Citizens of the Reich and other groups.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently stated that this is a “serious terrorist threat”, against which an extensive police operation is underway.

Faeser stated that the increase in actions against public officials by these groups is evidence of contempt for the State, and assured that “we are very vigilant and will not allow ourselves to be intimidated”.

In Cologne alone, where Lauterbach lives, 98 investigations are currently underway and in 65 of these cases the identity of the perpetrators of the threats has been established.

As a result of operations carried out in the federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Lower Saxony and Brandenburg, four leading members of the far-right group United Patriots, accused of planning the kidnapping of the German Minister of Health, were captured.

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