Schleswig-Holstein's Office for the Protection of the Constitution registers extreme increase in espionage and drone incidents

Schleswig-Holstein's Interior Minister Finke pointed to the state's special geographical location between the North and Baltic Seas. The report states verbatim: "Due to its geographical location on the North and Baltic Seas, Schleswig-Holstein plays a special role in internal and external security." Finke further explained that "the geopolitical situation has noticeably changed."

Geography as a Risk Factor

The report on the protection of the constitution cites "so-called disposable agents, drone sightings, phishing campaigns, and military activities in the coastal area" as indicators of the changed security situation. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution also stated, referring to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, "The geopolitical situation has changed 'noticeably'." Specifically, the report states: "There are also increasing military activities in the coastal area."

An increase in such incidents is also being observed at the federal level. According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) registered more than 1,000 suspicious drone flights at barracks, airports, port facilities, and arms companies last year. Other federal states have also reported rising numbers of espionage attempts.

Politically Motivated Crime at Record High

In addition to espionage cases, the report also points to an increasing number of politically motivated crimes. In total, the police registered 2,822 such cases – an increase of 5.4 percent compared to the previous year, setting a new record. Of these, 1,438 offenses were attributed to right-wing extremism, a decrease of 5.2 percent. In the left-wing extremist sphere, the police recorded 330 offenses, an increase of almost 25 percent compared to 2024.

The number of antisemitic offenses in Schleswig-Holstein decreased by 23 percent to 97 cases, according to the report. Nevertheless, Interior Minister Finke warned against downplaying the issue: "Antisemitism remains a 'persistent threat'." Offenses against public officials and elected representatives also decreased significantly – by around 53 percent to 107 cases.

Left-Wing Extremism with a New Focus

In the area of religious ideologies, authorities counted 37 offenses. The estimated number of individuals in this scene is 870, according to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The authority also warned "of a persistently high abstract threat of Islamist attacks." The report puts the number of right-wing extremist violent crimes at 58, and left-wing extremist violent crimes at 23. In total, the police recorded 130 politically motivated violent offenses. The estimated number of right-wing extremists is around 1,250, of whom about 350 are violence-oriented. In the left-wing extremist spectrum, the estimated number of individuals is 755.

Antisemitism and Islamism Remain in Focus

Looking at the left-wing extremist scene, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution notes a new focus: "According to the authorities in Schleswig-Holstein, left-wing extremists are increasingly focusing on anti-militarist themes." "The background to this is societal debates about the reintroduction of compulsory military service and rising defense spending." The youth organization of the German Communist Party (DKP) is particularly active: "According to the report of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the youth organization of the German Communist Party participates in actions related to so-called school strikes against conscription and specifically tries to recruit young people."

Overall, the report on the protection of the constitution for Schleswig-Holstein paints a picture of a significantly more tense security situation. The combination of a vulnerable coastal geography, a heightened geopolitical situation, and an increase in conventional and hybrid espionage activities presents growing challenges for security authorities. The report is likely to further fuel the political debate about expanding espionage defense and protecting critical infrastructure in coastal regions.