The head of the Thuringia branch of the German Domestic Intelligence Agency, Stefan Kramer, warned against underestimating the seriousness of far-right slogans and anti-Semitic statements made by politicians from the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Kramer told the "Augsburger Allgemeine" newspaper in statements published today, Saturday, "We must finally set aside our false shame to take seriously what extremists and open authoritarians write or say."

He continued, "History has proven several times that they mean what they say and write, and that they act accordingly when given the chance."

He said that despite this, the party ban measures should only be a "last resort".

Kramer added, "The ban must be the last resort, and democrats must have exhausted all other avenues first.. This is the path we are currently taking as citizens," referring to the large demonstrations against right-wing extremism in Germany