German police have arrested several individuals suspected of belonging to a far-right group planning several attacks on mosques in the country. - Uli Deck / AP / SIPA

They wanted to emulate the Christchurch massacre perpetrated a year ago in New Zealand. But the German police intervened in time. After the dismantling of a far-right group, the German government on Monday condemned plans for "frightening" attacks on several mosques in the country, planned by members of this group.

"What has been brought to light is frightening, to see a group obviously radicalizing themselves so quickly," said a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Björn Grünewälder at a press conference in Berlin. It is "important that places of worship be protected," he added.

Arrested and detained

"The state's mission is to ensure the free practice of religion in this country without danger or threat, regardless of which religion," said Steffen Seibert, spokesman for the government and the Chancellor Angela Merkel. "Anyone who wants to practice their religion here in Germany within the legal framework must be able to do so without threat and without being put in danger," he added.

On Friday, twelve members of a far-right group were arrested across Germany and then detained on suspicion of preparations for the attacks. They are suspected of having targeted Muslim places of worship during prayer, modeled on the attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, which in March 2019 had killed 51 people in two mosques while filming themselves live, revealed Sunday evening the German media.

An infiltrator

The alleged head of the German group, known and monitored for several months by the authorities, detailed his plans at a meeting organized with his accomplices last week. According to the popular newspaper Bild , it is Werner S., 53, living in Augsburg in Bavaria.

He allegedly threatened in Internet exchanges to cut the hands of people with opinions different from his, according to the newspaper. Investigators learned about the secret meeting from an undercover informant, the German media said. The group intended to attack mosques in "a dozen regions" in Germany, but also politicians and asylum seekers.

Former police officer involved

Of the twelve people arrested, four are suspected of being the linchpins of the group while the other eight have provided them with financial and logistical support. Among the suspects, all of German nationality, is a police officer from North Rhine-Westphalia who has been suspended, according to the German press.

According to Bild , it is Thorsten W., 50, a fan of the Middle Ages who did not hesitate to wear in his spare time a chain mail and a sword. He criticized the government, which he compared to "the Stasi dictatorship", named after the secret police of the former East Germany.

Increased surveillance

The arrests "are proof that the security services remain vigilant," said Grünewälder. He said that in all 50 people linked to the far-right movement and considered "dangers to the security of the state" were currently under particular surveillance by the intelligence services.

Authorities are concerned about the rise of far-right terrorism since the murder of a pro-migrant German elected member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's party last June. This dismantling is reminiscent of another small group in the summer of 2019 when the German authorities had arrested around thirty people linked to the "Nordkreuz" (Northern Cross) movement. They were suspected of having drawn up a black list of leftist and pro-migrant personalities to be killed.

World

VIDEO. Germany: Memory of Nazi crimes "inseparable" from national identity, says Angela Merkel

Did you see ?

Dresden declares "Nazi state of emergency" in Germany

  • World
  • Mosque
  • Far right
  • Germany
  • Terrorism
  • attempt