Suspected right-wing terror cell: raids and five arrests

The Federal Public Prosecutor General is taking action against young men allegedly belonging to a suspected right-wing extremist terror cell. Five suspects were arrested early this morning in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hesse in a police operation against an association that calls itself the "Last Wave of Defense".

The suspected members of the group, some of whom are still very young, are said to have planned attacks on refugees and political dissidents. As the Karlsruhe authorities also announced, officers also began searching a total of 13 properties in Saxony and Thuringia. These measures were directed against three other German nationals who are already in custody.

Defense of the "German Nation"

The "Last Wave of Defense" is said to have been founded in April 2024 at the latest, as the federal prosecutor's office explained. "The members of this association see themselves as the last resort for the defense of the "German Nation"," the Karlsruhe authority said. "Their goal is to bring about the collapse of the democratic system in the Federal Republic of Germany through acts of violence, primarily against migrants and political opponents."

The highest German law enforcement authority accuses four of the arrested individuals of membership in a terrorist organization and one of supporting such an organization. Three are alleged to have been so-called ringleaders of the group. The federal prosecutor's office also lists attempted murder, arson and damage to property among the charges.

Planned attack on asylum accommodation?

In February, Saxon investigators prevented a suspected planned attack on asylum accommodation in Senftenberg, Brandenburg, thanks to information provided by a journalist.

On February 12, an apartment and another property were searched in Meißen, Saxony. According to the Dresden public prosecutor's office, explosives in the form of two ball bombs were found, as well as brass knuckles, one-handed knives, ammunition, alarm guns and soft air weapons. A 21-year-old German, who was arrested on the day of the search, is said to have equipped himself for an attack on an asylum shelter in Senftenberg.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the ball bombs were industrially manufactured pyrotechnics. The reporter team's research also proved helpful in investigating an arson attack on a cultural center in Altdöbern in October. Two of the young men now arrested are suspected of having been involved in the attack on October 23, 2024.

"What is particularly shocking is that all of those arrested today are said to have been minors when the terrorist group was founded," said Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig (SPD). It is also the task of politicians to counteract the radicalization of young people in particular.