Arms dealer from Baden-Württemberg: Raid on suspected Reich citizen

Enlarge image

Police cordon (symbolic image)

Photo: Patrick Seeger / dpa

On March 14, investigators searched a warehouse and the home of a suspected “Reich citizen” in Aldingen (Tuttlingen district). Several hundred firearms, weapon parts and ammunition were seized during the raid.

According to a statement on Monday, the Spaichingen weapons authority had asked the police for administrative assistance with a search because the man could be a "Reich citizen." According to police, the 56-year-old is a commercial arms dealer.

According to the police, some of the weapons and objects are suspected violations of the Weapons Act, the War Weapons Control Act and the Explosives Act. The Rottweil public prosecutor's office has initiated criminal proceedings. The Rottweil Criminal Investigation Department's investigations into this are ongoing.

The weapons authority in Spaichingen had obtained a search warrant against the man through the Mannheim Administrative Court in order to secure weapons permits, weapons and weapon parts.

So-called Reich citizens are people who do not recognize the Federal Republic and its democratic structures. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution estimated that the scene had around 23,000 followers nationwide in 2022, which is around 2,000 more than in 2021.

The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution (LfV) included around 3,800 people in the milieu of so-called “Reich citizens” and “self-administrators” in Baden-Württemberg. In 2018 there were around 3,200. According to the Interior Ministry, the scene has an average age of around 53 years. Over half of all followers are older than 50 years.

Trial against alleged “Reich Citizens” group around Henry XIII. Prince Reuss

There are repeated raids and arrests against suspected “Reich citizens”. From April 29th, the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court wants to prosecute nine defendants from the alleged "Reich Citizens" group around Henry XIII. Prince Reuss negotiate.

They are accused of being members of a terrorist organization and of having prepared a so-called treasonous operation. Among the defendants is a man who is said to have shot several times with a semi-automatic rapid-fire rifle at police officers from a special operations squad while searching his apartment in Reutlingen on March 22, 2023, thereby injuring two officers.

ala/dpa