Four members of a German far-right 'terrorist' cell have been arrested in what

Spiegel

magazine called the 'biggest blow against the militant neo-Nazi scene in the recent past'.

They are Leon R, the leader of the small group called "Knockout 51", based in Eisenach, in central Germany, as well as three other members.

All were arrested for belonging to an "extreme right-wing terrorist organization", while their cell organized "street combat training for young sympathizers of nationalist ideas" whom they "indoctrinated" to form a "combat group extremist," said the German federal prosecutor.

Far-right violence, 1ʳᵉ threat to public order in Germany

The operation was launched at dawn in 11 regions of the country: some 800 investigators, including the GSG9 special forces of the federal police, searched around 60 places as part of an investigation targeting 46 people, according to a statement. of the federal prosecutor.

The German authorities have made far-right violence the number one threat to public order, ahead of the jihadist risk.

The former government of Angela Merkel had long been criticized for its laxity in the face of the neo-Nazi movement.

The murder in June 2019 by a neo-Nazi activist of Walter Lübcke, elected from the conservative party which defended the policy of welcoming migrants from the former chancellor, had deeply shaken the country.

Wednesday's searches are part of a broader investigation, involving police and military intelligence services since 2019. These investigations target the far-right group "Atomwaffen Division Deutschland" (nuclear weapon division), German branch of an American neo-Nazi group of the same name which "aspires to a race war", as well as members of the small group "Sonderkommando 1418" ​​(special commando 1418).

A former soldier is among the disciples of these groups under investigation, says Spiegel.

Networking with this neo-Nazi nebula, Leon R. and his group "Knowckout 51" focused "from March 2020 at the latest on the commission of serious crimes", according to the prosecution.

These include attacks on left-wing activists, the police and "other people who, according to the group's racist and far-right worldview, can be fought against".

“Patrols” and a “Nazi district”

Prosecutors say Knockout 51 attempted to establish a 'Nazi quarter' under its control in Eisenach and last year began carrying out 'patrols' in which it attempted to provoke victims into fighting them .

The arrested suspects injured several people, some of them seriously, during these clashes.

The training took place at the premises of the far-right NPD party in Eisenach, a medieval town known for hosting Martin Luther when he translated the Bible into German.

The group also maintained links with other neo-Nazi organizations in the country, notably in North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg.

During demonstrations against anti-Covid health measures between August 2020 and March 2021, members of "Knockout 51" clashed with the police and counter-demonstrators, further specifies the prosecution.

World

War in Ukraine: Did an oligarch fund swastika paintings in the country?

Justice

Ultra-right: Tried for terrorism, the ex-soldier Aurélien Chapeau sentenced to nine years in prison

  • World

  • Nazism

  • Nazi

  • neonazi

  • Terrorism

  • Germany