BERLIN, June 14 (Xinhua) -- German police in several federal states searched apartments of and interrogated 29 suspects who are accused of leaving hate speech on the Internet on Thursday, the third nationwide "Action Day to Combat Hate Mailing".
According to a statement posted by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), 20 police stations in about 10 federal states were in action.
The suspects are accused of having posted hate comments on the Internet, such as the public call for crimes, anti-Semitic verbal abuse or xenophobic incitement.
The BKA warned in the statement that the "simple mouse click" to spread hate on the Internet can have serious consequences for the perpetrators: incitement in social networks or online forums is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years.
Since the refugee crisis, hate speech against refugees or xenophobic incitement are on the rise in Germany.
In January this year, Network Enforcement Act that envisaged the speedy removal of hate comments on the Internet came into force, which according to the BKA, is "as important as the prosecution of perpetrators".
The BKA said, "Action Day to Combat Hate Mailing" emphasizes that the "Internet is not a law-free area", calling on the public to report to the police if they encounter hate and verbal violence on the internet and in social networks.