German Police Arrest 25 Suspects in Plan to Overthrow the German State
Summary from the AllSides News Team
In a nationwide series of raids on Wednesday, German police arrested 25 suspects in a plot to overthrow the German government by force.
Key Quotes: "The accused are united by a deep rejection of state institutions and the free democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany, which over time has led to their decision to participate in their violent elimination and to engage in concrete preparatory actions for this purpose," a statement by the German federal prosecutor's office said.
For Context: The right-wing group led by Prince Heinrich XIII, known as the Reichsbürger Movement, was planning to replace the government with its own order, headed by Heinrich. Wednesday's raids reportedly covered 130 properties belonging to 52 suspects in 11 German states. The movement is a loose alliance of primarily right-wing groups that believe the German constitution prior to World War II was never properly nullified and that the current, reunified Germany is therefore not valid.
How the Media Covered it: Sources across the political spectrum prominently covered the arrests, with many noting the history and objectives of the Reich Citizen. Left-rated sources emphasized the group's right-wing views more than right-rated sources did.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Germany arrests 25 suspected far-right extremists for plotting to overthrow governmentGerman officials arrested 22 suspected members and three suspected supporters of a far-right terrorist organization across the country on Wednesday on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.
In a statement, the German federal prosecutor’s office said an estimated 50 people were suspected to have been part of the group called Reich Citizens movement, founded no later than November 2021, who were plotting to overthrow the government and replace it with their own order.
“The accused are united by a deep rejection of state institutions and the free democratic basic order...
From the Center
German police arrest 25 suspects in plot to overthrow stateIn a nationwide raid, 25 suspected members and supporters of a terrorist organization were arrested early Wednesday.
Officials said the network, part of a wider right-wing movement, was already well established with a concrete plan to overthrow the German state by force and install a new government.
The raids were announced by Germany's federal prosecution agency and German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann. Buschmann said the investigations were directed against a suspected terrorist network with known ties to the Reichsbürger movement. He said that the raids had taken place on individuals suspected of planning an armed attack...
From the Right
Far-right group 'led by Prince Heinrich XIII' planned to build a new German ARMY after coup: Ex-military members of terrorists foiled by police 'wanted to bring the nation under their rule'A far-right group accused of plotting to overthrow the German government and install a prince as ruler had plans to build its own army after the coup was complete, prosecutors have revealed today.
The gang - allegedly led by 71-year-old Heinrich XIII, Prince of Reuss - had already devised how the post-coup state would be organised with both a military and civil branch that would be split into ministries, German officials said.
Heinrich would lead the civil branch as head of a central 'Council' that was due to include judge and former...
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