Threat reports on the rise
The number of threats reported initially decreased with the lifting of the Covid measures, but a slight increase can now be observed again. The tone of the threats remains just as aggressive.
In 2024, fedpol received and examined 689 reports. The nature of these threats is alarming, their tone particularly aggressive. Politics in Switzerland and around the world is polarising and sparks heated debates, especially on social media. Users often have unrestrained discussions there; the topics reflect all manner of public concerns. This can lead to emotional reactions, which regularly result in threats against senior members of the federal government and other officials.
In 2024, there was evidence of a genuine security threat in 71 cases – around 10 per cent of the total of 689 reports. If there is good reason to believe that someone will commit a criminal offence against a person or property, fedpol can take protective measures such as issuing warnings or sending cease-and-desist letters. However, if there is no obvious danger, for example in the case of insults, it is not permitted to record personal data in the information and documentation system. In such cases, it is up to the persons on the receiving end to take legal action themselves or to seek advice and support from the police, for example.
| Number of threat reports in 2024 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reports | 885 | 1 215 | 528 | 593 | 689 |
| Actual threats/potential danger to others | 64 | 120 | 68 | 62 | 71 |
Note on the statistics: if someone sends several reports on the same day, they are recorded as one report. fedpol, however, evaluates and analyses all reports separately. Since autumn 2022, members of Parliament, government ministers and senior judges have also been able to submit reports using an app created by fedpol, ensuring quick and direct transmission of information to the Federal Security Service. In all cases, fedpol conducts a detailed analysis of the situation.
| Security police tasks | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security assessments for government ministers and senior judges* | 519 | 465 | 646 | 731 | 843 |
| Security measures for foreign diplomatic representations | 141 | 259 | 420 | 435 | 580 |
| Number of cases processed** | 20 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 4 |
** Special or extraordinary events dealt with by fedpol’s special police intervention groups.
| Foreign visitors entitled to protection under international law | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of visitors | 525 | 506 | 1 057 | 884 | 1 169 |
| Number of personal protection measures | 241 | 137 | 229 | 234 | 340 |
| Number of permits to carry weapons issued to foreign security officers | 662 | 780 | 658 | 644 | 793 |
The fluctuating numbers in relation to international visits are due to the current political situation. In 2024, for example, the summit on peace in Ukraine on the Bürgenstock was attended by a large number of persons protected under international law. The level of protection depends on the risk assessment for each of these people. In other words, an individual person considered to be at high risk may receive a higher level of protection than a group considered to be at low risk.
| Risk analyses | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risk assessments for visitors protected under international law | 335 | 210 | 304 | 273 | 303 |
| Risk assessments for the protection of high-profile officials and foreign missions | 288 | 325 | 368 | 422 | 465 |
| Situation assessments for federal property in Switzerland and abroad* | 12 | 18 | 15 | 25 | 29 |
The Federal Palace and federal government buildings represent the heart of political power in Switzerland. Their symbolic significance is one of the reasons why these buildings are repeatedly the target of campaigns. fedpol prepares situation and threat assessments for buildings under federal jurisdiction in order to take appropriate protective measures.