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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| German 'race hate' letters probed | German 'race hate' letters probed |
| (1 day later) | |
| German police are investigating whether a string of letters from the far-right NPD party to politicians from immigrant backgrounds have incited racial hatred. | German police are investigating whether a string of letters from the far-right NPD party to politicians from immigrant backgrounds have incited racial hatred. |
| Dozens of politicians of foreign descent are running as candidates in Germany's election this Sunday. | Dozens of politicians of foreign descent are running as candidates in Germany's election this Sunday. |
| The NPD reportedly sent 30 of them letters advising them to "go home". | The NPD reportedly sent 30 of them letters advising them to "go home". |
| One recipient said the two-page letter contained a "five-point plan" for "moving foreigners gradually back to their home countries". | One recipient said the two-page letter contained a "five-point plan" for "moving foreigners gradually back to their home countries". |
| The letters were signed by a non-existent "commissioner for the repatriation of foreigners". | The letters were signed by a non-existent "commissioner for the repatriation of foreigners". |
| "We are investigating whether there is a suspicion of inciting racial hatred," said Martin Steltner, spokesman for the Berlin state prosecutor's office, quoted by Reuters news agency. | "We are investigating whether there is a suspicion of inciting racial hatred," said Martin Steltner, spokesman for the Berlin state prosecutor's office, quoted by Reuters news agency. |
| 'This is my home' | 'This is my home' |
| The National Democratic Party (NPD) leader in Berlin, Joerg Haehnel, defended the letters, which were sent at the weekend. | The National Democratic Party (NPD) leader in Berlin, Joerg Haehnel, defended the letters, which were sent at the weekend. |
| I have only German citizenship. I have no country to go to Oezcan MutluGreen party candidate Pre-poll threats to German migrants | I have only German citizenship. I have no country to go to Oezcan MutluGreen party candidate Pre-poll threats to German migrants |
| "As part of a democracy we're entitled to say if something doesn't suit us in this country," Reuters quoted him as saying. | "As part of a democracy we're entitled to say if something doesn't suit us in this country," Reuters quoted him as saying. |
| One recipient, Green party politician Oezcan Mutlu, said he was "shocked" to get the letter. | One recipient, Green party politician Oezcan Mutlu, said he was "shocked" to get the letter. |
| "This is my home town. I am German. I have only German citizenship. I have no country to go to," he told the BBC's Oana Lungescu. | "This is my home town. I am German. I have only German citizenship. I have no country to go to," he told the BBC's Oana Lungescu. |
| Mr Mutlu, a lawmaker in the Berlin state parliament, is used to hate mail. | Mr Mutlu, a lawmaker in the Berlin state parliament, is used to hate mail. |
| "Until recently I got them from individuals anonymously, but this time a party with the name on it is addressing me privately," he said. | "Until recently I got them from individuals anonymously, but this time a party with the name on it is addressing me privately," he said. |
| "You don't know what they can do if they have your address. I'm not afraid at all, but I have to be careful." | "You don't know what they can do if they have your address. I'm not afraid at all, but I have to be careful." |
| Nazi-style language | Nazi-style language |
| Of some 50 million Germans eligible to vote in Sunday's poll, about one in 10 has an immigrant background. | Of some 50 million Germans eligible to vote in Sunday's poll, about one in 10 has an immigrant background. |
| Many are ethnic Germans from the former Soviet Union, while others are Turks whose parents came to Germany to help rebuild the country after the war. | Many are ethnic Germans from the former Soviet Union, while others are Turks whose parents came to Germany to help rebuild the country after the war. |
| The NPD, which has around 7,000 members, has been polling poorly ahead of Sunday's election. It has no seats in Germany's national parliament but has some seats in regional assemblies. | |
| The NPD uses language eerily reminiscent of Nazi propaganda, our correspondent reports. | The NPD uses language eerily reminiscent of Nazi propaganda, our correspondent reports. |
| The letter says foreigners should be excluded from the welfare system and banned from owning land in Germany. | The letter says foreigners should be excluded from the welfare system and banned from owning land in Germany. |