Latest news with #BrigadeN'Hamedu
Arab Times
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
German authorities raid group that allegedly aims to overthrow Eritrean govt
BERLIN, March 27, (AP): Police were executing raids in six German states Wednesday against a group that authorities say "is part of an international network whose aim is to overthrow the government in Eritrea." Germany's federal prosecutor's office is accusing 17 suspects of founding or being members of the German branch of Brigade N'Hamedu, which it defines as a terrorist organization. Eritrea has long been described as one of the world's most repressive countries by human rights groups, and some members of its divided diaspora have clashed violently at times. The prosecutors said the investigations "suggest that the suspects assumed senior positions" within the group. The German offshoot has been active since at least 2022 was involved in violence at events connected to the Eritrean government. The prosecutor's office said the organization coordinated violent riots at Eritrea festivals in Giessen on Aug 20, 2022, and on Aug 7-8, 2023, as well as the seminar of an Eritrean association in Stuttgart on Sept 16, 2023. Numerous police officers were injured at the events, some of them seriously, and dozens of protesters were detained. The state interior minister of Baden-Württemberg, which includes Stuttgart, said that 56 people were sentenced to prison following the riots in the city in 2023, though some of those sentences can still be appealed, German news agency dpa reported. Prosecutors also say that some members of the association considered violence against German state institutions and police officers to be legitimate. More than 200 federal and state police officers searched 19 properties - eight in Hesse, four in North Rhine-Westphalia, three in Bavaria, two in Baden-Württemberg and one each in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Rhineland-Palatinate. Another search took place in Denmark at the same time, dpa reported. No arrests have been made. The prosecutor's statement also noted that another person who is suspected of holding a senior position within Brigade N'Hamedu in the Netherlands and Germany "has recently been sentenced by a Dutch court to a prison term of several years on account of his participation in clashes in The Hague' last February. The prosecutor's office did not identify any of the accused by name, in line with German privacy rules.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany raids group for allegedly plotting to topple Eritrean regime
German authorities conducted raids on Wednesday across six states targeting 17 people suspected of membership in a domestic terrorist group, allegedly aiming to overthrow the Eritrean government, prosecutors said. According to German authorities, the suspects are believed to hold leading roles in a German offshoot of the Brigade N'Hamedu group. No arrests have yet been made. Federal prosecutors in Karlsruhe described the German organization, active since at least 2022, as an internationally connected network known for using violence against event organizers in Germany who support the Eritrean government. The group is accused of orchestrating violent riots at Eritrean festivals in Giessen, near Frankfurt, in August 2022 and in July 2023, as well as at a seminar hosted by an Eritrean association in Stuttgart in September 2023. Numerous police officers were injured during the incidents, some seriously. According to the press release, some members of the organization had considered violence against German state institutions and representatives of state authority - such as police officers - to be a legitimate means. 200 officers search 19 locations across Germany Around 200 police officers searched 19 properties on Wednesday in the states of Hesse, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Baden-Württemberg. Another search took place at the same time in Denmark. A suspect in a separate case, reportedly a leader of Brigade N'Hamedu in both the Netherlands and Germany, was recently sentenced to several years in prison by a Dutch court for his role in riots in The Hague on February 17, 2024. In 2024, a Stuttgart court sentenced a 29-year-old Eritrean to three years and nine months in prison, while a Giessen court handed a 24-year-old a suspended sentence of one year and three months for their roles in the riots. Eritrean regime accused of human rights violations Eritrea, with a population of about 4 million, is located in north-east Africa on the Red Sea and is largely isolated internationally. Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has ruled the country since it gained independence around 30 years ago. Political parties are banned, and freedom of expression and press are heavily restricted. There is neither a parliament nor independent courts or civil society organizations. Reports also detail large-scale massacres, extrajudicial executions and sexual violence by security forces. The government, which rules as a one-party state, dismisses these allegations as politically motivated.
Saudi Gazette
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
German authorities raid group accused of plotting against Eritrean government
BERLIN — German authorities carried out raids across six states on Wednesday targeting individuals suspected of involvement in Brigade N'Hamedu, a group accused of attempting to overthrow the government of Eritrea. According to a statement from the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, the group is considered a 'domestic terrorist organization' under German law, with 17 identified suspects believed to hold senior roles in its German branch, which has been active since at least 2022. The prosecutor's office said the group is part of 'an internationally-connected network that intends to topple the Eritrean government'. Brigade N'Hamedu has allegedly orchestrated violent clashes at Eritrean events in Germany, including Eritrea Festivals in Giessen on 20 August 2022 and 7–8 August 2023, as well as a seminar in Stuttgart in September 2023. According to the statement, the suspects regard violence against German state institutions and police officers as 'legitimate means', particularly at gatherings supported by the Eritrean government. In these incidents, numerous officers were injured. In total, 19 properties were searched across Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Rhineland-Palatinate. A parallel search was also conducted in Denmark. More than 200 officers from federal and state law enforcement were involved in the operation. No arrests have been reported yet. The prosecutor's office also revealed that another alleged senior figure in Brigade N'Hamedu, active in both the Netherlands and Germany, was recently sentenced to several years in prison by a Dutch court for his role in clashes in The Hague on 17 February 2024. Eritrea is widely regarded as one of the world's most repressive regimes. In recent years, people who fled the country have disrupted festivals organized by the Eritrean diaspora in Europe and North America. Some say these protests are aimed at the Eritrean government, while others claim the events may instead raise money to support it. — Euronews
Euronews
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
German authorities raid group accused of plotting against Eritrean government
ADVERTISEMENT German authorities carried out raids across six states on Wednesday targeting individuals suspected of involvement in Brigade N'Hamedu, a group accused of attempting to overthrow the government of Eritrea. According to a statement from the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, the group is considered a 'domestic terrorist organisation' under German law, with 17 identified suspects believed to hold senior roles in its German branch, which has been active since at least 2022. The prosecutor's office said the group is part of 'an internationally-connected network that intends to topple the Eritrean government'. Brigade N'Hamedu has allegedly orchestrated violent clashes at Eritrean events in Germany, including Eritrea Festivals in Giessen on 20 August 2022 and 7–8 August 2023, as well as a seminar in Stuttgart in September 2023. According to the statement, the suspects regard violence against German state institutions and police officers as 'legitimate means', particularly at gatherings supported by the Eritrean government. In these incidents, numerous officers were injured. In total, 19 properties were searched across Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Rhineland-Palatinate. A parallel search was also conducted in Denmark. More than 200 officers from federal and state law enforcement were involved in the operation. No arrests have been reported yet. The prosecutor's office also revealed that another alleged senior figure in Brigade N'Hamedu, active in both the Netherlands and Germany, was recently sentenced to several years in prison by a Dutch court for his role in clashes in The Hague on 17 February 2024. Related Young Eritreans would rather risk death at sea than let their leaders take their freedom ǀ View Ethiopia's Tigray leader confirms firing missiles at Eritrea as conflict escalates Eritrea is widely regarded as one of the world's most repressive regimes. In recent years, people who fled the country have disrupted festivals organised by the Eritrean diaspora in Europe and North America. Some say these protests are aimed at the Eritrean government, while others claim the events may instead raise money to support it.
The Hill
26-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
German authorities raid group that allegedly aims to overthrow Eritrean government
BERLIN (AP) — Police were executing raids in six German states Wednesday against a group that authorities say 'is part of an international network whose aim is to overthrow the government in Eritrea.' Germany's federal prosecutor's office is accusing 17 suspects of founding or being members of the German branch of Brigade N'Hamedu, which it defines as a terrorist organization. The prosecutors said the investigations 'suggest that the suspects assumed senior positions' within the group. The German offshoot has been active since at least 2022 was involved in violence at events connected to the Eritrean government. The office said the organization coordinated violent riots at the so-called Eritrea festivals in Giessen on 20 August 2022 and in August 2023 as well as the seminar of an Eritrean association in Stuttgart in September 2023. Numerous police officers were injured at both events, some of them seriously. Prosecutors also say that some members of the association considered violence against German state institutions and police officers to be legitimate. More than 200 federal and state police officers searched a total of 19 properties — eight in Hesse, four in North Rhine-Westphalia, three in Bavaria, two in Baden-Württemberg and one each in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Rhineland-Palatinate. Another search took place in Denmark at the same time, dpa reported. No arrests have been made. The prosecutor's statement also noted that another person 'who is suspected of holding a senior position within 'Brigade N'Hamedu' in the Netherlands and Germany, has recently been sentenced by a Dutch court to a prison term of several years on account of his participation in clashes in The Hague' last February. The prosecutor's office did not identify any of the accused by name, in line with German privacy rules. Eritrea is one of the world's most repressive countries, and exiles have attacked several festivals held by Eritrea's diaspora in Europe and North America in recent years. Some of the people who fled the Horn of Africa nation say the violence against the festivals are protests against the government back home. Some have alleged that proceeds from festivals might support the government. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Eritrea over the years, many setting off into the deserts of Sudan and then North Africa in attempts to reach Europe.
