On Thursday, 20 alleged Reich citizen supporters’ houses have been raided as part of investigations underway in this issue. The 20 suspects aged between 25 and 74 were accused of forming a criminal organization supporting a Reich citizens scene. Bavarian News minister Joachim Hermann said, “They insulted and in some cases massively threatened state institutions across Germany on a large scale.” according to German News agency dpa. In another statement he also said, “Reichsburger members cannot be seen as only bizarre cranks, they can also become dangerous criminals”.
As per the prosecutors, the operation conducted on Thursday aimed at right-wing extremists operating a Telegram channel, spreading the group’s propaganda, and coordinating illicit activities directed at public offices.
The individuals under suspicion ranged in age from 25 to 74, with the majority residing in the southern federal states of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria.
About 280 officers raided the houses and properties of the suspects in 8 German states including Bavaria , Baden-Wuerttemberg, Hesse, North-Rhine Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, Hamburg, and Lower Saxony. Numerous documents and electronic devices were confiscated by authorities during the raids.
What is the Reich Citizens movement?
The Reichsbürgerbewegung or the Reich citizens movement is driven by far-right groups that reject Germany’s constitution and the legitimacy of the federal state of Germany and want to replace it with a German Reich. The Reich citizens are essentially supporters of the restoration of a German empire or a Holy roman empire and many of them are monarchists.
It is said that the Reich citizens exhibit racist and antisemitic tendencies including holocaust denial and have been describe as neo-Nazi by the government. Germany has ruled the movement and organization of Reich citizens as criminal.
These individuals have also exhibited a penchant for violence and have been caught for participation anti constitutional activities, possession of firearms, attempted murder and so on.
