A particular role in the radicalization of the organization seems to have been played by QAnon, which in January 2021 motivated the mob to storm the Capitol.
In one of the largest police investigations into the far-right in Germany, 25 men and women were arrested earlier today, members of the “Reichsbürger” terrorist organization, which had as its ultimate goal the overthrow of the polity by force and designed among other things armed invasion in the federal parliament and arrests of politicians.
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and the Anti-Crime Service, more than 3,000 people took part in the operation, while searches were carried out in Berlin, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Hesse and Thuringia, in 130 residences, offices and depots, including the Special Forces Command (KSK) camps in Baden-Württemberg.
The searches are still expanding to Kitzbühel, Austria, and Perugia, Italy, and are targeting at least 52 people, including Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss, 71, and former parachute unit commander Rüdiger von P., 69, the who have already been arrested.
Birgit Malzak-Winkemann, a former Alternative for Germany (AfD) federal parliamentarian and current judge in Berlin, who is also a professional shooter and owns “a lot of firearms”, also participated in the organization.
Among those arrested and suspected are a lawyer, a doctor, ex-soldiers and an active KSK soldier.
A particular role in the radicalization of the organization seems to have been played by the conspiracy organization QAnonwhich in January 2021 prompted the mob to storm the US Capitol.
According to the evidence so far, the organization was already planning an armed attack on the Bundestag and arrests of politicians as early as November 2021, with the aim of causing widespread unrest in the country and eventually “overthrow” the democratic state.
As stated in the conclusion of the Prosecutor’s Office, the members of the organization are associated with a “deep rejection of state institutions and democracy in Germany, which is why they planned a violent change of the system.
They know that there may be dead people, but they accept this scenario as an intermediate step to achieve their goals.” The authorities, however, have yet to clarify whether the “Reich Citizens” were actually preparing an “extremely treasonous act”, the conclusion points out.
The group, however, is believed to have been trying to create a “shadow” militia-like army in various parts of the country in order to advance its plan.
A major operation to collect weapons and military equipment was also underway, while shooting exercises were being conducted for the members. Security authorities also speak of an “unusually large” amount of money the organization had in its possession.
The new government was to be headed by Prince Henry XIII, who would seek to negotiate with Russia. He had already contacted the Russian authorities through his partner, Vitalia B., 39, but there is no evidence so far that the Russian side had responded.
The “military arm” of the “Citizens of the Reich” was organized around Rüdiger von P., who tried to recruit, among others, policemen and soldiers.
The 25 arrested will be brought before the investigator at the Federal Court in Karlsruhe today and tomorrow, Thursday.
RES-EMP
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