Members of an indication of Reich Residents carry black and white and different flags in Potsdam, Germany, Nov. 14, 2020. (Christophe Gateau/dpa by way of AP)
BERLIN --
4 folks had been arrested in Germany and weapons had been seized in an investigation into suspected anti-government extremists who allegedly deliberate to trigger an extended nationwide blackout and kidnap well-known figures together with the nation's well being minister, authorities stated Thursday.
Prosecutors in Koblenz and Rhineland-Palatinate's state legal police workplace stated that raids had been carried out at 20 properties throughout Germany Wednesday following an investigation launched in October. The suspects had been members of a chat group known as "United Patriots" on the Telegram messaging service.
Investigators stated the suspects had been related to the protest motion towards coronavirus restrictions and with the Reich Residents motion, which disputes the legitimacy of the post-World Struggle II German structure and, by extension, the present authorities. In all, 12 persons are underneath investigation.
Authorities stated the group's declared goal was to destroy electrical energy provide amenities and trigger an extended blackout throughout the nation, with the objective of manufacturing "circumstances just like civil warfare" and finally overthrowing the nation's democratic system.
Police seized 22 firearms, together with a Kalashnikov rifle, together with lots of of rounds of ammunition, hundreds of euros in money, and quite a few gold bars and silver cash. In addition they discovered solid COVID-19 vaccination and take a look at certificates.
The group allegedly deliberate to kidnap well-known public figures. Investigators stated these included Well being Minister Karl Lauterbach.
Lauterbach stated he was "appalled" by the information and thanked investigators.
"The entire thing exhibits that corona protests haven't simply change into extra radical, however that it's now about greater than corona -- that there's an try right here to destabilize the state," he informed reporters throughout a go to to Husum on Germany's North Beach. "This can be a small minority in our society, however extremely harmful."
"This won't affect my very own work," Lauterbach stated, including that he'll proceed attempting to stability the pursuits of people that need looser measures towards COVID-19 with those that need stricter ones.
The suspects, all German residents, are accused of getting ready a severe act of violence and of violating weapons legal guidelines.
"We're coping with a combination consisting of conspiracy theorists, opponents of vaccination but additionally Reich Residents that we hadn't seen on this kind up to now," stated the top of Rhineland-Palatinate state's legal police workplace, Johannes Kunz.
He stated group members repeatedly expressed their disdain for the German state, amongst different issues expressing the want that Russian President Vladimir Putin shouldn't simply assault Ukraine but additionally invade Germany, information company dpa reported.
Prosecutor Juergen Brauer stated the group's procurement of weapons and cash made clear to investigators that "we're dealing not simply with cranks, however with harmful criminals who need to implement their plans."
German Inside Minister Nancy Faeser stated that the investigation pointed to "a severe terrorist risk," and that the Lauterbach kidnapping plan and fantasies about overthrowing democracy represent "a brand new high quality of risk."
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