Eight German nationals, including a member of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, have been arrested for their ties to a right-wing terrorist organization, DPA learned on Tuesday.
All but one person was detained in the eastern German state of Saxony, while the suspected leader was held in Poland.
The German federal prosecutor’s office described the group – called the “Saxon Separatists” – as a militant organization of 15 to 20 individuals who want to establish “a state and society based on National Socialism” in East Germany.
Its members, prosecutors say, share a profound rejection of Germany’s free and democratic constitutional order, and of an ideology characterized by racist, anti-Semitic and apocalyptic beliefs.
The group is reportedly convinced that Germany is on the brink of a “collapse,” after which the organization plans to take control of areas in Saxony and possibly other East German states by force.
Prosecutors said that, under the group’s plan, “unwanted groups of people should be removed from the area through ethnic cleansing if necessary.”
AfD member, reportedly among the detainees
According to unconfirmed reports from dpa sources, the AfD member is said to be a local politician from Saxony and part of the AfD’s youth faction.
The politician is said to have appeared in front of police officers during the raid with a long gun, prompting police to fire two warning shots.
According to reports, the politician suffered a jaw injury during the arrest and is currently undergoing surgery. It is expected that witness statements will help clarify how the injury occurred and provide further details about the incident.
The AfD’s regional branch in Saxony rejected any connection to the militant group.
“Our party firmly supports the free democratic basic order. We have nothing in common with such a supposedly neo-Nazi ‘separatist group’, neither in terms of content nor organization,” party spokesman Andreas Harlass told dpa.
If the allegations against the politician are confirmed, he will be immediately expelled from the party, a spokesperson for the federal party said when asked.
The AfD youth faction also said that as far as it is concerned, “this is in an independent association that is not organizationally connected to the AfD.”
Individuals underwent paramilitary training
According to the prosecutor, the group is believed to have been formed no later than November 2020. Four of those arrested are said to be among the original members, while one is believed to be the leader of the group.
The prosecutor said the group members had repeatedly undergone paramilitary training with combat equipment: “In particular, they practiced urban warfare, handling firearms, night and forced marches, and patrolling.”
The group had obtained military equipment such as camouflage suits, helmets, gas masks and protective vests, the group said.
German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said: “It is a great success that the federal prosecutor and security authorities have managed to expose these monstrous plans and arrest those responsible.”
At the same time, he said this investigation reminds us that Germany’s basic order is under threat from many sides.
“The fact that weapons training has been given and military equipment has been purchased shows how dangerous these right-wing extremists are,” said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
Six taken into custody
An investigating judge issued a pre-trial detention order against six of the suspects on Tuesday evening, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office in the western city of Karlsruhe said.
It was initially unclear when the other two suspects would be brought to trial. The suspected leader is said to still be in Poland, while another man was reportedly injured.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, more than 450 members of the security forces and police officers were deployed in Germany alone as part of the operation.
According to the public prosecutor, seven more suspects are still being sought.
