Eight people suspected of plotting to establish a Nazi regime in Germany’s eastern states were arrested in a major police operation early Tuesday, German media reported.
The suspects are accused of forming a terrorist group known as the Saxon Separatists, which planned to seize power in parts of the country, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. Seven suspects were arrested in Leipzig and Dresden and one in neighbouring Poland. The prosecutors said in a statement:
This is a militant group consisting of 15 to 20 people whose ideology is characterized by racist, antisemitic and, in some cases, apocalyptic ideas. Its members share a deep rejection of the free and democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Investigators believe the group prepared for an “X-day” scenario based on the belief that Germany was on the verge of “collapse.”
They surmised that on that day, although its exact timing remains unclear, there would be a collapse of the state and society. Under this scenario, the group allegedly planned to use armed force to seize control of areas in Saxony and possibly other eastern German states.
The suspects’ ultimate goal was to create a Nazi-style state and society. They also planned to carry out “ethnic cleansing” to remove certain populations from the areas they would control.
The arrests came amid growing concerns about nationally orientated extremism in Germany, especially in the former East German states. Authorities have stepped up efforts to combat nationally orientated terrorism after a series of high-profile attacks in recent years.
