Fight against racism declared 'deepest concern' of Germany

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has vowed to tackle farright extremist attacks, saying on Monday that the country's fight against racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia was the government's "deepest concern".

The German leader's comments came as government ministers met with leaders of migrant groups to discuss ways to protect citizens from right-wing violence and threats, following deadly extremist attacks.

Last month, a German man shot dead nine people of immigrant background at a shisha bar and a kiosk in the town of Hanau, before killing his mother and himself.

German federal prosecutors said the attacker had posted material online that showed a "deeply racist mindset". Merkel said at the time that the shootings had revealed a poison of racism in Germany. The deadly attack was the third in the country to be carried out by a rightwing extremist in less than a year.

A liberal politician was murdered in his home in Kassel in June, and just four months later in October, two people died in the eastern city of Halle after a gunman attacked a synagogue.

Merkel said her government had already initiated a set of measures to combat extremism after the synagogue shooting.

"We hope this will have an effect," she said, but added that "this doesn't change the way you feel".

Merkel said everyone in Germany "regardless of their skin color or faith" deserves to feel safe in the country.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Saturday announced the creation of an "independent expert group on Islamophobia", which emulates current ministerial panels on anti-Semitism.

Seehofer, who leads the Christian Social Union party, or CSU, has faced criticism for comments he has made about Muslims. He had previously declared that "Islam does not belong to Germany".

Migrant organizations last week published an open letter to Merkel accusing her Christian Democrats party, or CDU, and its coalition partners of tailoring their migration and integration policies to win back voters who support the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD.

Merkel's party and the far-right last month backed the new leader for the state of Thuringia, a move labeled a "pact with fascism" that sent shock waves through German politics. The matter forced the resignation of Merkel's designated successor as leader of the CDU, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.