(VOVWORLD) - German officials raided apartments nationwide Thursday over an alleged plot by a far-right group to spread conspiracy theories and destabilize the state through social media, prosecutors said.
 Police officers are deployed in Berlin, Germany. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Computers, smartphones, and data sticks were seized in searches of 20 apartments in 8 states, the prosecutor's office in Munich said in a statement.
The investigation centered on a plot by alleged members of the far-right Reichsbürger movement – the same group behind a plan last year to overthrow the state. The movement encompasses far-right extremists, conspiracy theorists, and gun enthusiasts. This group set itself the goal of overthrowing the current constitutional order in Germany and establishing a new government in the tradition of the German Empire of 1871.
German officials estimate the group has 23,000 members. The group is considered a particularly dangerous organization because a large number of its members were formerly in the German armed forces.
Last month, authorities raided the apartments of several Reichsbürger members allegedly connected to the United Patriots, which Germany considers to be a terrorist group. Five were arrested during the raid.