Extensive Police Raids Target Reichsbürger Movement in Germany

German authorities have intensified their crackdown on the Reichsbürger movement, a far-right group known for its rejection of Germany’s democratic state and constitution, and its willingness to resort to serious acts of violence.

Recent police operations across multiple federal states signify a significant escalation in the efforts to dismantle this extremist group’s activities.

The Reichsbürger movement, often drawing parallels to the QAnon movement in the United States, is notorious for its radical views and actions. Its members do not recognize the legitimacy of the post-World War II German state and have been involved in various criminal activities, including plotting to overthrow the German government.

Recent police raids, involving around 280 officers, targeted properties in eight of Germany’s 16 states, including Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, Hamburg, and Lower Saxony. The Munich public prosecutor’s office, which led these operations, reported that 20 residences were searched. Baden-Württemberg was a particular focus of these searches, with half of the residences being located there.

The suspects, aged between 25 and 74, are accused of forming a criminal organization and have been under surveillance since early 2021. They are known to have used several channels of the Telegram messenger service to discuss their plans, which included destabilizing Germany and its institutions.

During the raids, police confiscated various items, including alarm guns, riot control agents, smartphones, and data storage devices. The Reichsbürger members were found to have insulted and massively threatened state institutions on social media, reflecting their deep-seated animosity towards the German state.

These raids follow a series of similar operations in recent months, targeting alleged Reichsbürger members. In October, police arrested five individuals over a plot to attack Germany’s power infrastructure and kidnap the German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. In June, the trial of five members of the United Patriots group, linked to the Reichsbürger movement, began.

Notably, in December, over two dozen people were arrested in connection with plans to topple the government, including a member of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. These arrests underline the growing concern about the Reichsbürger movement’s influence and its threat to public safety.

Germany’s domestic intelligence estimates the number of people involved in the Reich Citizens scene at around 23,000 nationwide. This substantial figure indicates the movement’s extensive reach and the significant challenge it poses to the country’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

These developments highlight the German government’s commitment to combating far-right extremism and its efforts to safeguard the nation’s democratic foundations against those who seek to undermine them.