
Germany arrests far-right teenagers over asylum seeker attacks
BERLIN: German police on Wednesday (May 21) arrested five teenagers accused of forming a far-right militant group called the "Last Wave of Defence" that targeted asylum seekers and plotted to undermine the government.
The suspects, reportedly aged 14 to 18, were members or supporters of the "right-wing extremist terrorist organisation" founded in April last year, federal prosecutors said.
Their goal was "to bring about the collapse of the democratic system in the Federal Republic of Germany through acts of violence", the prosecutors' office said in a statement.
The juveniles saw themselves as defenders of the "German nation" and had allegedly planned "arson and bomb attacks on asylum seekers' homes and institutions on the political left".
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig said it was "particularly shocking" that the suspects arrested were all "minors when the terrorist group was founded".
"This is a warning sign and shows that right-wing extremist terrorism knows no age," Hubig said.
Police launched raids on 13 properties nationwide and arrested the four alleged group members and one supporter. All had been minors over the age of criminal responsibility at the time of most of the crimes, prosecutors said.
Two of the suspects, partially identified as Jerome M and Lenny M, were also accused of attempted murder and arson, prosecutors said.
ARSON ATTACK
The pair allegedly set fire to a cultural centre in the town of Altdoebern in the eastern region of Brandenburg in October.
At the time, the building was occupied by several people, who escaped unscathed, prosecutors said.
The centre was thought to have been targeted because it was seen as left-wing and its management had spoken out against right-wing extremism in the past, Die Welt daily has reported.
A third member of the group, named as Ben-Maxim H, drafted a speech which was read by Lenny M in a video inciting others to carry out similar attacks.
The police raids Wednesday also targeted properties linked to three other alleged group members who were already in custody.
Two of those previously arrested allegedly smashed a window of an asylum seekers' shelter and hurled fireworks inside, but without sparking a fire, in Schmoelln in the eastern region of Thuringia in January.
They also sprayed the building with Swastikas and slogans including "Foreigners Out", "Germany for the Germans" and "Nazi Territory", and made Nazi salutes outside the building.
"RADICALISATION"
Three group members had jointly planned to attack another asylum shelter in January and had procured two firework "bombs" to carry out the attack, prosecutors said.
Previous arrests made by police however meant the supposed attack plan was never carried out.
Germany has been on alert after a rise in politically motivated crimes, with the threat of far-right extremism growing in particular.
Officials on Tuesday reported a 40-per cent surge last year in such offences, ranging from hate speech to acts of physical violence.
In total, a record 84,172 politically motivated crimes were recorded in 2024, almost half of them motivated by far-right ideology.
Presenting the report, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt voiced concern over the "fast-growing development ... of extreme right-wing youth movements".
Federal criminal police chief Holger Muench said the rise reflected increased "polarisation and radicalisation in society" and showed that Germany's "democracy is under pressure".
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNA
21 hours ago
- CNA
Trump's travel ban on 12 countries goes into effect early Monday
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump's order banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States goes into effect at 12.01am Eastern Time (12.01pm, Singapore time) on Monday (Jun 8), a move the president promulgated to protect the country from "foreign terrorists". The countries affected by the latest travel ban are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The entry of people from seven other countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela - will be partially restricted. Trump, a Republican, said the countries subject to the most severe restrictions were determined to harbor a "large-scale presence of terrorists", fail to cooperate on visa security, have an inability to verify travelers' identities, as well as inadequate record-keeping of criminal histories and high rates of visa overstays in the United States. He cited last Sunday's incident in Boulder, Colorado, in which an Egyptian national tossed a gasoline bomb into a crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators as an example of why the new curbs are needed. But Egypt is not part of the travel ban. The travel ban forms part of Trump's policy to restrict immigration into the United States and is reminiscent of a similar move in his first term when he barred travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations. Officials and residents in countries whose citizens will soon be banned expressed dismay and disbelief. Chad President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno said he had instructed his government to stop granting visas to US citizens in response to Trump's action. "Chad has neither planes to offer nor billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and its pride," he said in a Facebook post, referring to countries such as Qatar, which gifted the US a luxury airplane for Trump's use and promised to invest billions of dollars in the US. Afghans who worked for the US or US-funded projects and were hoping to resettle in the US expressed fear that the travel ban would force them to return to their country, where they could face reprisal from the Taliban. Democratic US lawmakers also voiced concern about the policies. "Trump's travel ban on citizens from over 12 countries is draconian and unconstitutional," said U.S. Representative Ro Khanna on social media late on Thursday. "People have a right to seek asylum."


Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Independent Singapore
From bromance to blow-up: Trump and Musk's bitter spat
The most ballyhooed bromance on earth blew up in spectacular fashion on Thursday when the world's most powerful leader traded barbs online with the world's richest man. In the middle of a meeting with the German chancellor, US President Donald Trump posted that he was 'disappointed in Elon', stung by the tech tycoon's unrelenting criticism of his 'big, beautiful bill'. The spat between these high-profile bromates lit up the internet, with live-blogging websites offering tweet-by-tweet updates, and others speculating—sometimes behind paywalls—on whether the erstwhile bosom buddies had become bitter enemies. Only the most incorrigible punters would dare wager whether the rift is permanent or passing. Given their mercurial temperaments, today's feud could easily become tomorrow's flirtation. Supporters of strong governance may, nevertheless, be relieved. The world's most powerful leader is still more potent than its richest man—at least for now. Musk blinked first. Musk indicated on X he is ready to relent, but the White House has turned a cold shoulder. The president reportedly continues to criticise the Tesla, X and SpaceX boss in private. Costly spat The spat could prove costly for both men. While Trump and his political action committees may not receive the $100 million or more reportedly pledged by Musk, the tycoon risks losing billions. Trump has threatened to cancel his government contracts, posting: 'The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it.' The rift widened after Musk lambasted Trump's signature tax-and-spending bill, calling it a 'disgusting abomination' sure to wreck the nation's finances. To add insult to injury, he claimed Trump wouldn't have won the election without his support. Trump said he was 'very disappointed in Musk,' accused him of turning 'hostile' after being turfed out of government, and charged that the billionaire was meddling in politics to further his business interests. Musk, who spent over $250 million supporting Trump's re-election bid last year and once declared, 'I love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man,' hit back hard. He called for Trump's impeachment and replacement by Vice President JD Vance and warned that the president's tariffs could trigger a US recession. See also Hillary Clinton urges Biden not to concede in close election He also insinuated that Trump's name appeared in sealed files relating to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Still, Musk eventually toned down his rhetoric. After threatening to decommission his Dragon spacecraft, which NASA uses to transport astronauts, he responded to a netizen urging calm with: 'Good advice… Ok, we won't decommission Dragon.' His conciliatory tone, however, received no response from the White House. Trump may struggle to find alternatives if he scraps contracts with Musk's companies. SpaceX remains the only US firm transporting astronauts to and from space. Several government agencies also depend on its Falcon rockets, in-orbit vehicles, and the Starlink network—more than 7,500 internet satellites, which Ukraine has used in its war against Russia. Media pundits are almost unanimous in concluding that the bromance was doomed from the start—doomed by two towering egos unwilling to share the spotlight. Ideological divide? But Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland sees more than just a personality clash. He believes there is also an ideological divide. See also Trump and Biden outline competing visions for US economy Musk's opposition to Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' may be linked to its failure to extend tax credits for electric vehicles—a provision that might have boosted Tesla's sagging sales. Publicly, however, Musk has criticised the bill on fiscal grounds, warning that it will deepen the already gargantuan US deficit. In doing so, he has recast himself as a champion of traditional, deficit-conscious Republicans. Freedland notes a growing divide on the American right: between old-school conservatives who worry about fiscal responsibility, and nationalists like Trump's former strategist Steve Bannon, who support tariffs and oppose global immigration. Musk, by contrast, has argued against tariffs and in favour of keeping the US open to highly skilled, tech-savvy immigrants. He has even called for the formation of a new political party. No wonder the bromance has broken down. But then again, politics makes strange bedfellows—and anything's possible. Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

CNA
4 days ago
- CNA
Trump, Germany's Merz begin talks on Ukraine and trade in cordial White House meeting
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opened their first White House meeting on Thursday (Jun 5) with discussions on Ukraine, trade and defence spending, setting a more cordial tone than Trump's recent Oval Office sessions with other foreign leaders. Trump praised Merz as a "good representative of Germany" and "difficult," which he suggested was a compliment. He said US troops would remain in Germany and welcomed Berlin's increased defence spending. Merz expressed readiness for a deeper relationship with Washington. The two conservatives appeared to get along well, trading pleasantries about accommodations and exchanging thanks during their brief press remarks. TRADE AND TARIFFS LOOM OVER DIPLOMACY Despite the friendly atmosphere, unresolved tensions on trade lingered. The US and European Union are negotiating a broader trade agreement crucial to Germany's export-driven economy. Trump, however, signalled flexibility on whether a deal materialises. "We'll end up hopefully with a trade deal. I'm okay with the tariffs or we make a deal," Trump said. Merz, who assumed office last month, had said ahead of the meeting that he expected no major breakthroughs but intended to raise issues such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, US tariffs and NATO coordination. Germany remains Ukraine's second-largest donor behind the US. Trump has continued to push NATO allies to boost defence budgets. He hinted, however, that Berlin should not go overboard given its 20th-century history. Merz, for his part, supports increasing Germany's defence outlays to 5 per cent of GDP. SECURITY STAKES AND POLITICAL CONTRASTS The meeting comes amid broader strains between the US and Europe, fuelled by Trump's interventions in European domestic affairs and support for right-wing movements. Trump has also challenged European stances on immigration and digital speech regulation. Merz's team reportedly sought guidance from other leaders on managing meetings with Trump to avoid public clashes. The summit precedes a major NATO gathering, where alliance unity and burden sharing will again be tested. Security concerns remain top of mind for Berlin, which has depended on US nuclear deterrence since World War Two. Trump's past threats to withhold protection from countries not meeting defence targets have unsettled European capitals. Still, Merz has moved swiftly on foreign policy. He led a European delegation to Kyiv shortly after taking office and drew praise from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for backing the proposed 5 per cent NATO spending target. Sudha David-Wilp of the German Marshall Fund said Merz's actions show "Germany is willing to accept greater responsibility for Ukraine and the European security order" — long-standing US priorities. Both leaders share business backgrounds, right-leaning politics, a hardline stance on immigration, and an interest in golf. However, Merz has also criticised Trump. Before his own election win in February, Merz described Trump campaign rhetoric as "ultimately outrageous," likening it to Russian interference.