German Authorities Seek Far-Right Extremists in Arrest Warrants
The arrest warrants are mostly against suspected members of Reichsbürger and Selbstverwalter, far-right groups rejecting the existence of the modern German state.
Germany: Nearly 190 members of far-right groups wanted
The arrest warrants are mostly against suspected members of Reichsbürger and Selbstverwalter, far-right groups rejecting the existence of the modern German state.
German Authorities Seek Far-Right Extremists in Arrest Warrants vehicles parked on a rural road in southwestern Germany during an operation targeting ‘Reichsbürger’ suspects in June 4, 2024
Police made several raids on Reichsbürger targets last yearImage: Waldemar
Germany’s Interior Ministry had outstanding arrest warrants against 189 suspects deemed members of far-right groups that do not recognize the modern German state, media group RND reported on Thursday.
German Authorities Seek Far-Right Extremists in Arrest Warrants said the suspects were part of “Reichsbürger” (“citizens of the Reich”) or “Selbstverwalter” (“self-administrators”) groups, which claim either to live in the defunct German Empire, or on soil they have unilaterally declared to be independent within Germany.
The figure was published on September 30, 2024 in response to a parliamentary request for information from the socialist Left Party.
Why are those suspects wanted?
In total, 254 arrest warrants were open against such suspects, the ministry said, with some facing more than one warrant.
There were 43 individuals wanted for at least one violent crime, and three accused of several violent crimes.
Heinrich XIII Prince Reus walks, carrying a binder and flanked by police, through court during a trial in FrankfurtHeinrich XIII Prince Reus walks, carrying a binder and flanked by police, through court during a trial in Frankfurt
A Reichsbürger group is accused of plotting to install Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss (center) as head of stateImage: Boris Roessler/dpa Pool/picture alliance
The ministry said 20 of the warrants were for violent political crime, and another 77 for politically motivated non-violent crimes like forgery, coercion or inciting racial violence.
It classified the remaining warrants as being for “the area of general criminality without political motivation.”
German authorities believe that more than 20 of the people sought are residing abroad; some of them have been at large for years.
Between the end of March and September last year, 93 fresh warrants of this kind were issued against either “Reichsbürger” or “Selbstverwalter,” the data showed
