BERLIN — German police have detained 12 men on suspicion of involvement in a far-right group that allegedly planned attacks against politicians and minorities, officials said Friday.
Federal prosecutors said four German men were detained on suspicion of founding and participating in “a right-wing terrorist organization.” They were identified only as Werner S., Michael B., Thomas N. and Tony E. for privacy reasons.
Another eight men were detained on suspicion of “supporting a terrorist organization.”
The four main suspects and a further unnamed suspect are alleged to have formed an organization in September 2019 with the aim of overthrowing the state and social order in Germany.
Prosecutors alleged that the suspects wanted to achieve their goal “with as yet unspecified attacks against politicians, asylum-seekers and Muslims to provoke a civil war-like situation.”
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They alleged that Werner S. and Tony E. organized several meetings among the group’s members, who were also in touch via phone and messenger services.
Police searched premises linked to the suspects at 13 locations in six states Friday.
Prosecutors said the raids turned up sufficient evidence for authorities to formally seek arrest warrants against the suspects.
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