Latest news with #Reichcitizen
The Hill
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Germany bans far-right ‘Kingdom of Germany' group
The German government banned the far-right 'Kingdom of Germany' group on Tuesday and arrested four of its leaders in raids throughout the country. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced the ban, calling the group a threat to democratic order whose members refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the German government, follow its laws or pay taxes or fines. 'The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures,' Dobrindt said. 'We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order,' he added. The group is part of the 'Reich citizen' movement, which claims the historical German Reich still exists. Dobrindt noted that the group's claim to power is built on antisemitic conspiracies, which he said cannot be tolerated. 'This is not about harmless nostalgia, as the title of the association might suggest, but about criminal structures, criminal networks,' Dobrindt said later to reporters. 'That's why it's being banned today,' he said. Approximately 800 police officers participated in the raids Tuesday. German law enforcement arrested four high-ranking members of the group, including its leader, Peter Fitzek. The Associated press contributed.
Western Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Germany bans the largest ‘Reich citizen' group and arrests four leaders
Since early Tuesday morning, 800 police officers in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. Interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said: 'The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures.' More Stories He added that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives — a behaviour that the country cannot tolerate. 'We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order,' Mr Dobrindt said. The so-called 'Reich citizen', or Reichsburger' movement, does not recognise Germany as a state. Many of them 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. The so-called 'Kingdom of Germany' was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, the interior ministry said in a statement. It claims to be a 'counter-state' that seceded from the German federal government. 'This is not about harmless nostalgics, as the title of the association might suggest, but about criminal structures, criminal networks,' the minister told reporters later in Berlin. 'That's why it's being banned today.' The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes. It is not the first time that Germany has acted against the 'Reichsburger' movement. In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States. Last year, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germany's government went on trial on Tuesday, opening proceedings in a case that shocked the country in late 2022.
South Wales Argus
13-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Germany bans the largest ‘Reich citizen' group and arrests four leaders
Since early Tuesday morning, 800 police officers in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. Interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said: 'The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures.' He added that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives — a behaviour that the country cannot tolerate. 'We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order,' Mr Dobrindt said. The so-called 'Reich citizen', or Reichsburger' movement, does not recognise Germany as a state. Many of them 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. The so-called 'Kingdom of Germany' was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, the interior ministry said in a statement. It claims to be a 'counter-state' that seceded from the German federal government. 'This is not about harmless nostalgics, as the title of the association might suggest, but about criminal structures, criminal networks,' the minister told reporters later in Berlin. 'That's why it's being banned today.' The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes. It is not the first time that Germany has acted against the 'Reichsburger' movement. In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States. Last year, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germany's government went on trial on Tuesday, opening proceedings in a case that shocked the country in late 2022.
The Advertiser
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Raids across Germany after far-right right group banned
The German government has banned the largest "Reich citizen" group, an extremist far-right organisation that calls itself the "Kingdom of Germany" and seeks to undermine the country's democratic order. Four of its leaders were arrested. Since early Tuesday morning, hundreds of police in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. "The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures," Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said He said the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with anti-Semitic conspiracy narratives - a behaviour the country could not tolerate. "We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order," Dobrindt said. The so-called " Reich citizen", or "Reichsburger", movement does not recognize Germany as a state. Many of them claim 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. The so-called "Kingdom of Germany" was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek - who was among those arrested on Tuesday - in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6000 followers, the interior ministry said. It claims to be a "counter-state" that seceded from the German federal government. The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes. It's not the first time that Germany acts against the "Reichsburger" movement. In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States. In March, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germany's government went on trial in a case that shocked the country in late 2022. In March, a German court jailed five people for plotting to overthrow the government in a far-right coup, in a case that shocked the country in late 2022. The German government has banned the largest "Reich citizen" group, an extremist far-right organisation that calls itself the "Kingdom of Germany" and seeks to undermine the country's democratic order. Four of its leaders were arrested. Since early Tuesday morning, hundreds of police in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. "The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures," Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said He said the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with anti-Semitic conspiracy narratives - a behaviour the country could not tolerate. "We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order," Dobrindt said. The so-called " Reich citizen", or "Reichsburger", movement does not recognize Germany as a state. Many of them claim 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. The so-called "Kingdom of Germany" was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek - who was among those arrested on Tuesday - in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6000 followers, the interior ministry said. It claims to be a "counter-state" that seceded from the German federal government. The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes. It's not the first time that Germany acts against the "Reichsburger" movement. In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States. In March, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germany's government went on trial in a case that shocked the country in late 2022. In March, a German court jailed five people for plotting to overthrow the government in a far-right coup, in a case that shocked the country in late 2022. The German government has banned the largest "Reich citizen" group, an extremist far-right organisation that calls itself the "Kingdom of Germany" and seeks to undermine the country's democratic order. Four of its leaders were arrested. Since early Tuesday morning, hundreds of police in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. "The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures," Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said He said the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with anti-Semitic conspiracy narratives - a behaviour the country could not tolerate. "We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order," Dobrindt said. The so-called " Reich citizen", or "Reichsburger", movement does not recognize Germany as a state. Many of them claim 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. The so-called "Kingdom of Germany" was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek - who was among those arrested on Tuesday - in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6000 followers, the interior ministry said. It claims to be a "counter-state" that seceded from the German federal government. The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes. It's not the first time that Germany acts against the "Reichsburger" movement. In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States. In March, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germany's government went on trial in a case that shocked the country in late 2022. In March, a German court jailed five people for plotting to overthrow the government in a far-right coup, in a case that shocked the country in late 2022. The German government has banned the largest "Reich citizen" group, an extremist far-right organisation that calls itself the "Kingdom of Germany" and seeks to undermine the country's democratic order. Four of its leaders were arrested. Since early Tuesday morning, hundreds of police in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. "The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures," Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said He said the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with anti-Semitic conspiracy narratives - a behaviour the country could not tolerate. "We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order," Dobrindt said. The so-called " Reich citizen", or "Reichsburger", movement does not recognize Germany as a state. Many of them claim 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. The so-called "Kingdom of Germany" was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek - who was among those arrested on Tuesday - in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6000 followers, the interior ministry said. It claims to be a "counter-state" that seceded from the German federal government. The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes. It's not the first time that Germany acts against the "Reichsburger" movement. In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States. In March, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germany's government went on trial in a case that shocked the country in late 2022. In March, a German court jailed five people for plotting to overthrow the government in a far-right coup, in a case that shocked the country in late 2022.
Rhyl Journal
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Germany bans the largest ‘Reich citizen' group and arrests four leaders
Since early Tuesday morning, 800 police officers in several states have been searching the association's properties and the homes of leading members. Interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said: 'The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures.' He added that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives — a behaviour that the country cannot tolerate. 'We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order,' Mr Dobrindt said. The so-called 'Reich citizen', or Reichsburger' movement, does not recognise Germany as a state. Many of them 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. The so-called 'Kingdom of Germany' was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, the interior ministry said in a statement. It claims to be a 'counter-state' that seceded from the German federal government. 'This is not about harmless nostalgics, as the title of the association might suggest, but about criminal structures, criminal networks,' the minister told reporters later in Berlin. 'That's why it's being banned today.' The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes. It is not the first time that Germany has acted against the 'Reichsburger' movement. In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States. Last year, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germany's government went on trial on Tuesday, opening proceedings in a case that shocked the country in late 2022.
