Extremist incidents remain stable
The total number of incidents involving political extremists in 2007 remained similar to that in previous years, the Federal Police said on Friday.
The number stood at 327, with 106 registered for the extreme right, and 221 for the extreme left, very slightly down in both instances.
About half the incidents included acts of violence.
Most of the cases involving extreme rightwingers were threats and violence directed at foreigners or left-wing extremists, and incidents at skinhead concerts and other gatherings.
Police named attempts to disrupt Swiss national day celebrations as among the major cases registered.
Most of the incidents involving leftwing extremists were unauthorised demonstrations and throwing paint at buildings. There was a fall in the number of actions in support of prisoners, but a rise in illegal house occupations.
The main left extremist event was the counter demonstration to a right-wing People’s Party meeting in Bern in October and subsequent rioting, in which 21 people were injured, 18 of them police.
The police put the number of extreme right wing supporters in the country at about 1,800, with a hard core of 1,200, while they believe the extreme left consists of some 2,000 people.
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