To secure an absolute majority of seats in Magdeburg, the AfD will need the support of the ‘red-brown’ BSW. The same could happen following the 20 September elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Who are their voters and what do they have in common?

The far-right party has secured over 44 per cent of the vote, whilst the CDU has plummeted below 20 per cent. The formation of the next government will be a nail-biting finish.

Established under the GDR, the Russisches Haus has always been regarded as an outpost of Russian intelligence in Germany. Following the attacks in Leipzig, the German government ordered its closure, along with the consulate in Bonn, the last one still in operation 

The German Chancellor is still keeping the long-range missiles promised during the election campaign on the back burner. Meanwhile, the UK and France are sharing data with Kyiv to produce the Storm Shadow-Scalp missiles in Ukraine: Berlin is providing funding and co-producing them, but continues to drag its feet over the delivery of the Taurus missiles

The Russian link is gaining ground in relation to the drone found at the German airport during the night of 4–5 August. It is possible that a network that has been operating in Europe for some time is behind the incident

Following a manhunt lasting over 20 hours, the jihadist Abdul Ballout was killed in the Spandau district. The man was accused of the terrorist attack on the capital’s Christopher Street Day Pride event, in which one woman was killed and 29 people were injured. German Chancellor Merz described it as “an attack on our society”.