2.3.4 Domestic Terrorism

• During the 1970s, 80s and 90s, terrorist activity became one of the biggest problems facing FRG society
• The RAF, created by Ulrike Meinhof and Andreas Baader, primarily consisted of young, middle class, educated West Germans who were disillusioned with the FRG's political system
• At first, RAF activism consisted of sabotage and arson, but later the group decided to direct their violence against people rather than property, using bombings and assassinations to achieve their goals
• Until the RAF used violence against people, opinion polls showed that 15% of the public had sympathy with their cause of social justice and equality