Twelve people, all of German nationality, were arrested on Friday, February 14, as part of an investigation into a far-right group, suspected of plotting attacks against "politicians, asylum-seekers and Muslims ", announced the German public prosecutor's office.

Four of these suspects are suspected of having formed "a far-right terrorist association" in September 2019. The other eight suspects were said to be ready to give them "financial" support or "assistance in obtaining weapons ", the Karlsruhe public prosecutor's office said in a statement.

"Shaking the order of the state"

The group, formed last September, aimed to "shake the order of the state and society in Germany and, in the end, overthrow it", according to the same source.

"Attacks, the concrete arrangements for which have not yet been specified, had to be committed against political leaders, asylum seekers and people of the Muslim faith in order to generate a situation close to civil war," said the official. the prosecution office responsible for terrorism cases.

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"With the aim of creating conditions resembling those of a civil war, attacks which were not yet in the plan of concrete projects against politicians, asylum seekers and members of the Muslim community were planned, "adds the prosecution.

Previously, the prosecution had announced searches in thirteen locations spread over five regional states including Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous region in Germany.

Five suspects had been identified on this occasion, as well as eight people suspected of having given them support.

In order to implement their plans, the suspects met personally several times and in different places, justice said. They also used different messaging services to communicate with each other.

Concern over far-right terrorism

German authorities have worried about far-right terrorism since the murder of a pro-migrant German elected official in June 2019 and the escalation of violence against the country's elected officials.

The German intelligence services estimate that there are around 24,100 "right-wing extremists" in Germany, half of whom can potentially act out.

With AFP and Reuters

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