Five people have been detained by German police as part of an investigation into alleged involvement with a far-right organization known as “Last Wave of Defence,” which allegedly targeted political opponents, asylum seekers, and migrants.
Following arson attacks on a community center and a refugee shelter, early-morning arrests occurred on Wednesday in various parts of Germany.
According to German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig, “all those arrested today are said to be minors when the terrorist group was founded,” in a statement.
Federal prosecutors claim that the operation included the search of 13 homes on Wednesday.
In accordance with German privacy laws, four of the people detained are suspected of belonging to a domestic terrorist organization. Benjamin H, Ben-Maxim H, Lenny M, and Jason R have been detained.
Jerome M, the fifth, is accused of supporting the organization. The other two people detained are also charged with aggravated arson and attempted murder. Their ages were not made public.
Prosecutors said they are looking into three additional people already being detained as well.
The group was established in mid-April 2024 or earlier, according to the prosecution.
They claimed that its members intended to end Germany’s democratic order by putting themselves in the position of the “German nation” as the last resort.
According to the prosecution, two of the suspects allegedly set a fire at an Altdobern cultural center in October, adding that several people who were inside the building at the time were uninjured.
Another two suspects allegedly attempted to start a fire with fireworks in Schmolln by breaking a window in the city’s asylum-seeking home in January.
According to the prosecution, they also sprayed swastikas and the group’s initials and slogans on the walls, as well as “Foreigners out,” “Germany for the Germans,” and “Nazi area” and “Germany for the Germans.”
Three suspects allegedly planned an arson attack on a Senftenberg home for asylum seekers in January, but it never happened due to two men’s earlier arrests.
According to a report released by the interior ministry on Tuesday, far-right violence in Germany increased by about 40% to a record high from last year.
Anti-immigrant and refugee sentiments have risen in Germany in recent years as a result of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)’s election campaign’s anti-immigrant platform’s expansion.
Source: Aljazeera
Leave a Reply