Arrests in Germany and Poland "Saxon separatists" were planning an armed uprising
Racist, anti-Semitic, apocalyptic? A militant terrorist group is said to have assumed that Germany was about to collapse - and had plans for "Day X".
05.11.2024, 10:14
dpa
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- Eight suspected right-wing terrorists have been arrested in Germany and Poland.
- Apartments were searched in Germany, Poland and Austria.
- The "Saxon separatists" have practiced house-to-house combat and were planning the armed seizure of eastern German territories as well as ethnic cleansing, according to the allegation.
The German federal prosecutor's office has arrested eight suspected right-wing terrorists in Germany and Poland. At the same time, around 20 properties are being searched, according to the Karlsruhe authorities. Searches are also being carried out in Austria.
The federal prosecutor's office accuses the suspects of belonging to the "Saxon Separatists". This group was founded in November 2020 at the latest.
Planned takeover of territories by force of arms
"This is a militant group consisting of fifteen to twenty people whose ideology is characterized by racist, anti-Semitic and in parts apocalyptic ideas," the statement reads. "Its members are united by a deep rejection of the free and democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany."
According to the statement, the association assumes that Germany is on the brink of "collapse". If the state and society collapse, the group wants to use armed force to conquer areas in Saxony and possibly also in other eastern German states "in order to establish a state and society based on National Socialism", the statement continued.
"Unwanted groups of people are to be removed from the area by ethnic cleansing if necessary." Four of those arrested are said to have been among the original members, one is said to have been the ringleader. According to the federal prosecutor's office, the others joined later. They had repeatedly undergone paramilitary training with combat equipment.
Paramilitary training with combat equipment
"In particular, they practiced house-to-house combat, the use of firearms, night and forced marches as well as patrols", according to the statement. The group also acquired military equipment such as camouflage suits, combat helmets, gas masks and protective vests.
According to dpa, the oldest of them is 25 years old. "It is a great success that the Federal Public Prosecutor General and the security authorities have succeeded in uncovering these outrageous plans and arresting those responsible," says German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP).
"The fact that training was given in the use of weapons and military equipment was procured shows how dangerous these right-wing extremists are," said Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD). She referred to the early investigation of the group by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
The detainees are to be brought before the investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday), who will decide on their pre-trial detention.
