In a significant crackdown, German authorities detained eight individuals on Tuesday morning who are suspected of being part of a far-right militant group, according to announcements from the country’s public prosecutor’s office.
The detainees, which included minors and young adults, were reportedly involved with a collective called Sächsische Separatisten, or Saxonian Separatists. This group is marked by its racist, antisemitic, and partly apocalyptic beliefs, as highlighted in the prosecutor’s statement.
The prosecutor described a chilling ideology among the group members, which is rooted in a strong disdain for the liberal democratic framework. They believe that Germany is on the verge of collapse and have plans to take control of Saxony and possibly other eastern regions of the country to create a governance structure reminiscent of National Socialism.
The probable intention of the group also included the expulsion of designated groups through methods resembling ethnic cleansing, according to further clarifications by the prosecutor’s office.
Law enforcement conducted a widespread operation across Saxony, culminating in the arrest of the suspects in various locations, while the identified leader was apprehended in Poland. This extensive operation involved over 450 police officers and special forces executing searches at 20 different sites connected to the investigation.
Since its inception in 2020, this militant organization had been allegedly preparing for what its members believed would be an unavoidable and violent governmental shift. Reports indicated that they engaged in regular paramilitary training, honing skills in urban combat scenarios, weapon handling, and other military competencies. Additionally, they collected military-style gear, including camouflage uniforms, combat helmets, gas masks, and body armor, as per the prosecutor’s statement.
During the raids, authorities also looked into seven other individuals who were not detained, signaling a broader effort to dismantle this far-right ideology.
The German government has been vigilant against the resurgence of far-right entities that seek to undermine democratic institutions. Notably, in 2022, a faction known as Reichsbuerger attempted to storm the German parliament in Berlin with plans to seize lawmakers and initiate negotiations regarding a post-coup state structure primarily with Russia, identified as a key ally after World War II.
For years, German officials have raised alarms about the escalating threat posed by far-right extremists to the fabric of the nation’s democracy, underscoring the urgency of counteracting such ideologies and activities.