Germany bans biggest ‘Reichsbürger’ group and arrests four of its leaders

Germany has banned an extremist far-right organisation linked to the so-called “Reichsbürger” (Citizens of the Reich) movement and carried out dawn raids on its properties and leaders’ homes, the interior ministry said on Tuesday.

Hundreds of security forces across several German states searched properties associated with the self-styled “Königreich Deutschland” (Kingdom of Germany) group, and arrested four of its leading members, according to the government.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the organisation’s 6,000 members had created a “counter-state” in Germany and “built up economic criminal structures”.

The group underpinned its supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives, according to Dobrindt, who said Germany would not tolerate such behaviour.

Read more: Euronews