In a series of coordinated actions across Germany, police conducted raids on Wednesday in six states targeting a group believed to be part of an international network with the intention of toppling the Eritrean government. German federal prosecutors are investigating 17 individuals suspected of establishing or being actively involved in the German faction of Brigade N’Hamedu, which is classified as a terrorist entity by German authorities.
Reports suggest the suspects held leadership roles within the organization. Known to have been operational since at least 2022, the group has been involved in violent incidents during events associated with the Eritrean government. Notably, riots were orchestrated at Eritrea-related festivals in Giessen on August 20, 2022, and on August 7-8, 2023, as well as at an Eritrean association’s seminar in Stuttgart on September 16, 2023. These events saw numerous police officers being injured, some sustaining serious injuries.
The group is also accused of having members who endorse using violence against German state institutions and law enforcement officers. During these raids, more than 200 federal and state police officials searched 19 locations—eight in Hesse, four in North Rhine-Westphalia, three in Bavaria, two in Baden-Württemberg, and one in each of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Rhineland-Palatinate. Additionally, a simultaneous search was conducted in Denmark. No arrests have been reported so far.
The prosecution highlighted another case involving an individual suspected of holding a significant position in Brigade N’Hamedu both in the Netherlands and Germany. This person recently received a multi-year prison sentence from a Dutch court for participating in disturbances in The Hague, according to a prosecutor’s statement. No specific names of the accused have been disclosed, adhering to German privacy laws.
In a related development in Sweden, six individuals were sentenced on Wednesday for violent rioting linked to an Eritrean cultural festival in 2023. According to Swedish news agency TT, five recipients received five-month prison sentences, while the sixth faced six months. The unrest occurred when hundreds of anti-government demonstrators disrupted the festival, resulting in over 50 injuries and nearly 140 arrests.
Sweden, akin to Germany, is home to a substantial community of individuals with Eritrean heritage. Since the 1990s, this cultural festival has been an annual celebration, though criticized for allegedly promoting and financially supporting the Eritrean government, per Swedish media insights. Eritrea, known for its oppressive regime, has seen its exiles attack diaspora-held festivals in Europe and North America in recent years. Hundreds of thousands of Eritreans have left the country, many risking the perilous journey through Sudan and North Africa in hopes of reaching Europe.