Raids were carried out in 10 of Germany’s 16 states, targeting a branch of the far-right “Reichsbürger” (Citizens of the Reich) movement, an anti-Semitic cell which denies the existence of the modern-day Germany government, according to the Agence France-Presse.
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer confirmed that the “United German Peoples and Tribes” is the first far-right group with connections to the Citizens of the Reich to be banned by the ministry.
“We are dealing with an association that spreads racist and anti-Semitic writings and thus systematically poisons our free society,” Seehofer said in a statement, according to UPI.
“The verbal militancy and massive threats to officials and their families also testify to the anti-constitutional stance of this association.”
In 2017, a member of Citizens of the Reich was sentenced to life in prison for shooting dead a police officer during a raid in his home in Georgensgmünd the previous year.
In a tweet announcing the raids, ministry spokesman Steve Alter also said that authorities will continue to tackle extremism even amid the current coronavirus outbreak in Germany and the rest of the world.
“Right-wing extremism, racism and anti-Semitism are relentlessly fought even in times of crisis,” Alter said.
There are nearly 14,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany, the fifth highest total in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been a total of 42 deaths in Germany as a result of the coronavirus, with 113 patients managing to recover.
According to BBC News, there are an estimated 19,000 members of the Citizens of the Reich movement in Germany.
The raids were also carried out following the mass shootings in the German city of Hanau in February, in which the gunman is suspected to have held far-right views.
“There is much to indicate that the perpetrator acted on right-wing extremist, racist motives, out of hatred towards people of other origins, religion or appearance,” Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel said in the wake of the attacks. “Racism is poison, hatred is poison, and this poison exists in society and is to blame for too many crimes.”
This graphic, provided by Statista, shows the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world as of March 19.
Hygiene advice
Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub. Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before; during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste. Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
If you feel unwell (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and call local health authorities in advance. Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask usage
Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person. Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning. Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask. Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of mask. Do not reuse single-use masks.
