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The Print
07-08-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Three men arrested in Germany in suspected far-right Reichsbuerger plot probe
Dozens of members, whose leaders include German aristocrat and property investor Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, are on trial across Germany after the suspected plot was uncovered in 2022. The Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich) movement rejects modern German democracy as illegitimate and its followers argue they are citizens of a monarchy that endured after Germany's defeat in World War One, despite its formal abolition. BERLIN (Reuters) -Three men were arrested in Bavaria on Thursday as part of an investigation into the far-right Reichsbuerger group, suspected of plotting to violently overthrow the last German government and the constitutional order, Munich prosecutors said. The defendants have denied charges of terrorism and high treason. Prosecutors said they believed the men arrested on Thursday, who were not named, supported the movement or were involved in plot preparations. Specifically, they are suspected of taking part in firearms training in 2022 at a former army shooting range with members of the group who have already been arrested. 'According to the available information, these shooting exercises served to prepare for a possible attack on the German Bundestag (lower house of parliament),' prosecutors said. Searches were conducted at eight locations in the states of Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia early on Thursday. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Matthias Williams and Alison Williams) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Daily Maverick
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Three men arrested in Germany in suspected far-right Reichsbuerger plot probe
The Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich) movement rejects modern German democracy as illegitimate and its followers argue they are citizens of a monarchy that endured after Germany's defeat in World War One, despite its formal abolition. Dozens of members, whose leaders include German aristocrat and property investor Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, are on trial across Germany after the suspected plot was uncovered in 2022. The defendants have denied charges of terrorism and high treason. Prosecutors said they believed the men arrested on Thursday, who were not named, supported the movement or were involved in plot preparations. Specifically, they are suspected of taking part in firearms training in 2022 at a former army shooting range with members of the group who have already been arrested. 'According to the available information, these shooting exercises served to prepare for a possible attack on the German Bundestag (lower house of parliament),' prosecutors said. Searches were conducted at eight locations in the states of Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia early on Thursday.
Euractiv
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Three arrested over alleged far-right ‘coup plot' linked to German prince
The plot was allegedly an offshoot of the so-called Reichsbürger – or Citizens of the Reich – movement of extremists and gun enthusiasts who reject the legitimacy of the modern German republic AFP Aug 7, 2025 12:35 2 min. read News Service Produced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to journalistic standards. German police said Thursday they had arrested three more suspects in an alleged far-right coup plot linked to a prince that has seen 27 people go on trial. Prosecutors say the plot uncovered in 2022 aimed at attacking the German parliament, usurping power and installing aristocrat and businessman Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss as head of state. The plot was allegedly an offshoot of the German Reichsbürger , or Citizens of the Reich, movement of extremists and gun enthusiasts who reject the legitimacy of the modern German republic. Those involved are said to have taken inspiration from conspiracy theories, including the global QAnon movement, and drawn up "lists of enemies". The three men arrested Thursday are part of a group of six suspected of "belonging to a terrorist organisation" and of "preparation of high treason", police and prosecutors in Munich said in a statement. Some 300 police took part in the operation that saw raids on locations in the states of Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. In December 2022 police arrested Reuss himself and other key suspects in the plot. A total of 27 alleged ringleaders, including Reuss, are currently on trial in courts in Munich, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt. Those arrested on Thursday are accused of taking part in firearms training at an old army facility in Bavaria in April 2022. Prosecutors suspect the training was in preparation for the planned attack on the Bundestag, or lower house of parliament, in Berlin. Aside from Reuss, the alleged plot also involved an ex-politician for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), a former army lieutenant colonel and an ex-soldier in the KSK special forces unit. (vib)
Straits Times
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Three men arrested in Germany in suspected far-right Reichsbuerger plot probe
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BERLIN - Three men were arrested in Bavaria on Thursday as part of an investigation into the far-right Reichsbuerger group, suspected of plotting to violently overthrow the last German government and the constitutional order, Munich prosecutors said. The Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich) movement rejects modern German democracy as illegitimate and its followers argue they are citizens of a monarchy that endured after Germany's defeat in World War One, despite its formal abolition. Dozens of members, whose leaders include German aristocrat and property investor Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, are on trial across Germany after the suspected plot was uncovered in 2022. The defendants have denied charges of terrorism and high treason. Prosecutors said they believed the men arrested on Thursday, who were not named, supported the movement or were involved in plot preparations. Specifically, they are suspected of taking part in firearms training in 2022 at a former army shooting range with members of the group who have already been arrested. "According to the available information, these shooting exercises served to prepare for a possible attack on the German Bundestag (lower house of parliament)," prosecutors said. Searches were conducted at eight locations in the states of Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia early on Thursday. REUTERS
Saudi Gazette
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Germany bans biggest 'Reichsbürger' group and arrests four of its leaders
BERLIN — Germany has banned an extremist far-right organization linked to the so-called "Reichsbürger" (Citizens of the Reich) movement and carried out dawn raids on its properties and leaders' homes, the interior ministry said on Tuesday. Hundreds of security forces across several German states searched properties associated with the self-styled "Königreich Deutschland" (Kingdom of Germany) group, and arrested four of its leading members, according to the government. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the organization's 6,000 members had created a "counter-state" in Germany and "built up economic criminal structures". The group underpinned its supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives, according to Dobrindt, who said Germany would not tolerate such behavior. "We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order," Dobrindt added. The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further resources can be used for extremist purposes, the interior ministry said. The "Kingdom of Germany" was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek, who was arrested on Tuesday, in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012, according to the interior ministry. The group claims to be a "counter-state" that has seceded from the federal government. The "Citizens of the Reich" movement does not recognize Germany as a state. Many of its members claim that the historical German Reich still exists and ignore the country's democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines. Berlin has warned for years of the growing threat posed by far-right extremists and has repeatedly cracked down on such groups. In March, five people linked to the "Citizens of the Reich" movement were jailed for plotting to overthrow the German government in a far-right coup. In a separate case, 25 people were arrested in December 2022 for planning to topple the government as part of a domestic terrorist organization. Among the plotters was a member of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. — Euronews
