Police raid right-wing terror network in Germany

BERLIN: German police raided 13 locations across six states on Friday searching for evidence against a suspected right-wing terror network. During the raids, prosecuting authorities arrested 12 of 13 people suspected of being part of or involved with the terror cell. Federal prosecutors said the raids had confirmed suspicions of planned wrongdoing.

The cell was suspected of planning attacks on politicians, asylum seekers and Muslims.

Prosecutors said the group, founded by five suspected rightwing extremists, hoped to plunge Germany into a civil-war-like state, but their plans had not yet reached fruition. Only four of the five were taken into custody.

The eight other people arrested were suspected of financially supporting the core group, procuring weapons and providing assistance for future attacks. All those detained were German and male, according to DPA news agency.

Search for weapons

The raids were aimed at gathering enough evidence to charge the core group, which was allegedly founded in September 2019. Police said they were searching for weapons or other supplies that could be used in an attack.

German public broadcasters ARD and SWR reported the suspects had exchanged messages discussing ideas of the attacks and shared photos of homemade weapons. The raids occurred in BadenWürttemberg, Bavaria, Lower Saxony, North-Rhine Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and SaxonyAnhalt. North Rhine Westphalia Interior MInister Herbert Reul revealed that an administrative police employee had been suspended in relation to the raids.