German security service designates far-right AfD as ‘extremist’

Germany’s domestic intelligence service has designated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a “right-wing extremist” group. The designation, made public by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution on Friday following an audit by the BfV security service, makes the party subject to surveillance. Later Friday, the incoming German government said they are to review whether to launch an effort to ban the AfD party after it was classified as extremist. The classification will make it easier for the authorities to use secret methods to monitor the AfD, including intercepting communications. Certain factions of the AfD, including three regional parties in the east of the country as well as its youth wing, were already classified as extremist.