The head of Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Holger Münch, has issued a warning about the increasing radicalization of young people within right-wing extremist circles.

“For about a year, we’ve increasingly seen very young people with right-wing views becoming more radicalized and forming, at times, well-organized groups to carry out serious crimes,” Münch told the Funke media group of newspapers in remarks published on Saturday.

He highlighted the growing role of the internet as a networking space for the far-right scene. “Radicalization, recruitment and mobilization increasingly happen via social networks and right-wing forums,” Münch said.

The high number and severity of far-right motivated crimes pose a “major challenge” to security agencies, which are responding with increased surveillance, according to Münch.

Münch emphasized that tackling the issue is not solely the responsibility of the police, but a challenge that requires joint effort across all parts of society to prevent serious acts of violence.

Earlier this week, German federal prosecutors launched a crackdown on a far-right extremist cell accused of plotting violent attacks targeting migrants.

Five male suspects aged 14 to 18 were arrested in coordinated raids. The teens are accused of being part of – or in one case supporting – a group that calls itself the Last Wave of Defence.

According to prosecutors, the group aimed to destabilize Germany’s democratic system through acts of violence, primarily targeting migrants and political opponents.