Major security campaign: Pursuit of extremists in three states due to illegal weapons
The German police carried out a large-scale raid against a group suspected of belonging to the far-right, accused of stockpiling military-grade weapons. Authorities fear that this group may have obtained fully automatic weapons and was preparing to operate as an armed organization.
The operation targeted eight suspects aged between 32 and 57, believed to have formed a cell based on far-right ideology. According to a joint statement from the public prosecutor's office in the city of Celle and the criminal police office of Lower Saxony, the forces searched more than ten locations in three German states. The locations included areas in Lower Saxony, particularly in the Hanover region and the city of Hildesheim, as well as the district of Pforzheim in Baden-Württemberg and the district of Lippe in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Special police units participated in the raids. This step came after previous investigations that had already resulted in the seizure of a gun and ammunition. Authorities stated that the main goal this time is to find and secure more weapons, along with gathering intelligence on the group's activities.
The campaign comes at a time when fears are rising about the growth of right-wing extremism in Germany. Authorities have intensified their efforts to confront extremist organizations involved in political violence and the possession of illegal weapons.
Recent government data shows the extent of the problem, as neo-Nazis and right-wing extremists committed 42,788 crimes in Germany last year, the highest number in over a decade. Among them were 1,488 violent attacks targeting migrants, refugees, and political opponents, an increase of 17 percent compared to the previous year, resulting in at least 1,068 injuries.