German chancellor Angela Merkel worried right-wing violence towards refugees could split Germany

A new dramatic rise in right-wing violence, largely in the eastern part of the nation triggered by a surge in the number of refugees entering the country, threatens to mar events planned to mark the 25th anniversary of unification in October.

Chancellor Angela Merkel indicated on Monday her concern that extreme right-wing attacks could open up a new split in Germany.

"I don't intend to make an east-west conflict," she said, refusing to be drawn at her annual press conference as to whether anti-foreigner sentiments were pronounced in the east.

Referring to the recent attacks, Ms Merkel said the "full force of the law" would be felt by those who insulted, attacked or used arson to target newcomers to the country.

The overwhelming majority of Germans have welcomed the refugees, which are expected to top 800,000 this year – almost 1 per cent of the total population.

However, the series of anti-foreigner rallies, arson attacks on asylum shelters and random street violence in the nation's former communist half have also underlined the threat that xenophobia could emerge as a new dividing line between the eastern and western parts of the nation.

While Ms Merkel has retained her high popularity ratings in Germany, her comments underline the political risks she faces as concerns grow about the costs of handling the asylum seekers as well as the threat of reigniting east-west tensions in the country.

While the east might represent just 17 per cent of the country's total population, it was the scene last year of almost half the number of racially inspired acts of violence, according to official data.

There were more than 200 attacks on asylum centres during the first half of the year. Since then, the number of attacks on refugee homes — often daubed with swastikas — has accelerated to become almost daily events.

Some have been in the western part of the nation but the majority have been staged in the east, which was ruled by a Moscow-communist dictatorship for more than four decades.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-01/merkel-concerned-about-right-wing-attacks/6739244