German governor wants zero tolerance toward far right

The governor of Germany’s eastern state of Saxony says far-right extremism is the biggest threat to democracy and there should be zero tolerance toward far-right crime.

Michael Kretschmer tells the regional parliament that authorities will appoint an official point-person for victims and look into shortening legal proceedings against extremists.

He is speaking 10 days after the suspected killing of a German man by two refugees sparked anti-migrant protests in the eastern city of Chemnitz. Several people were injured in clashes between far-right protesters, police and counter-demonstrators last week.

Kretschmer dismisses reports of groups of men attacking migrants in the city following the killing, saying: “There was no mob, no hunting of people and no pogroms.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her spokesman had condemned videos appearing to show such attacks.

— AP