Hamburg, February 25 – German police conducted searches in nine apartments across Hamburg on Wednesday as part of a nationwide operation against online hate speech. The raids, which saw officers seize mobile phones and other evidence, were part of approximately 140 investigations being carried out across Germany.
Three Raids in Harburg, Others Across the City
Three of the nine searches in Hamburg took place in the Harburg district, with the remaining six spread across Dulsberg, Eppendorf, Hamm, Lohbrügge, Lurup, and Osdorf. The police confirmed that mobile phones and other evidence were secured during the operations.
Focus on “X” Platform for Five Cases
According to police, five of the cases involved derogatory and demeaning comments posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Specific allegations include:
- A 67-year-old man is suspected of insulting individuals based on their ethnic origin and inciting illegal acts against people with a migration background.
- A 54-year-old woman allegedly endorsed planned coup attempts.
- A 41-year-old man is accused of posting anti-Israel content featuring swastikas.
- A 28-year-old man reportedly insulted Turks and Arabs.
- A 50-year-old is under suspicion for allegedly equating the actions of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip with crimes committed during the Third Reich.
Offenses on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok Also Targeted
The investigations extended beyond X to other social media platforms:
- On Instagram, a 32-year-old man is suspected of inciting violence against Israelis.
- A 75-year-old man allegedly insulted Muslims on Facebook.
- A 36-year-old is suspected of publicly condoning the intentional killing of two women in Baden-Württemberg on TikTok.
- A 22-year-old man is accused of disseminating propaganda videos from the Islamic State terrorist organization.
Nationwide Operation Against Diverse Ideologies
The nationwide searches were based on approximately 140 ongoing investigations. More than half of these cases are related to right-wing extremism, but the operation also addresses left-wing, and in some instances, religious and foreign ideologies.
The Impact of Hate and Incitement on Social Media
The issue of hate and incitement flooding comment sections on social media platforms remains a significant concern, raising questions about the future of journalism in such an environment. This topic was also discussed on NDR 90.3’s “NDR 90,3 Aktuell” program on February 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
This operation underscores the ongoing efforts by German authorities to combat the spread of hate speech and extremist content online, aiming to hold individuals accountable for their digital actions.
