Illegal activities - Continued trial of the "Reichsbürger" terrorist organization.
The peeling plaster, lowered shutters, and armed, masked police create a tense scene near an ancient gate, believed to have once led to a wine cellar in Althengstett, North Black Forest. This sight has caused alarm among residents due to a suspected raid against alleged supporters of the "Reichsbürger" ideology, headed by Heinrich XIII. Prince Reuß.
On social media, images from the raid and speculation regarding shootings, casualties, and injuries were circulated. Mayor Rüdiger Klahm (independent) confirms the lack of adequate information in the afternoon, resulting in initial worry among the community. The area also allegedly houses secret weapons depots for this organization.
Two suspects: Providing facilities for a domestic terrorist organization
At present, a 73-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman from Baden-Württemberg stand accused of providing rooms in Saxony for the "Reichsbürger" group around Prince Reuß to host recruitment events from late 2021 to early 2022. The woman is additionally accused of transporting a vehicle to the alleged leader, Rüdiger v. P., in the autumn of 2021. The Federal Prosecutor's Office confirms the charges for supporting a domestic terrorist organization.
Notably, no arrests were made. Numerous police searched seven facilities and plots throughout Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein this morning, with more details emerging from local authorities and "Spiegel" reporting.
Among the searched locations are the residences of the two suspects in Althengstett and Bad Teinach-Zavelstein (Calw district). These operations may take some time to complete, according to the Karlsruhe authority's spokesperson.
Neighbors recount their experiences during the raid
A resident in Althengstett heard and saw commotion from her bathtub, with a police officer requesting she move away from the window. She describes the operation as "routine," with no signs of disturbance in their neighborhood. An elderly neighbor, over 80 years old, confirms that the operation he observed from his armchair was calm and unobtrusive.
The Reichsbürger in Germany assert that the German Reich (1871-1945) still exists and do not acknowledge the Federal Republic and its laws.
The group led by Prince Reuß gained media attention after a large-scale anti-terror raid shortly after St. Nicholas' Day 2022 in several states and abroad. This resulted in numerous arrests as the group plotted to topple Germany's political system.
The main suspects are set for trial at the Oberlandesgerichte in Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, and Munich. At Frankfurt's court, a BKA official testified about Prince Reuß's personal relationships and business interests, finances, internet presence, number of vehicles, and residences.
In Stuttgart, the military aspect of the alleged terrorist group will be investigated. It was planned to seize power through forceful means. This allegedly involved the establishment of a nationwide network of 286 military-organized units, known as Heimatschutzkompanien. The "Heimatschutzkompanie Nr. 221" was responsible for areas in Freudenstadt and Tübingen, Calw's district.
Over 700 law enforcement officials from the Bundeskriminalamt, Bundespolizei, and police departments of Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein participated in the operation, with assistance from BKA, Baden-Württemberg's special units, the Bundeswehr's Kommando Spezialkräfte, and the Technisches Hilfswerk in Sachsen, along with utilizing heavy equipment.
In summary, the ongoing investigation focuses on individuals plotting to establish a new state structure with Prince Reuß as its head. The group has been linked to a network of 286 militarily organized groups to seize power through violent means.
Following a string of arrests after a high-profile raid late in 2022, these suspects face prosecution in three separate trials at the Oberlandesgerichte in Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, and Munich. A BKA official described Prince Reuß's personal relationships, his numerous residences, financial and car details, and internet presence during his testimony at the Frankfurt trial. Another trial will examine the group's military tactics, which appear to be centered on a distributed network of Heimatschutzkompanien, ranging from Freudenstadt to Tübingen, in the district of Calw.
The investigation that has garnered national headlines involved over 700 officers from various agencies, featuring support from BKA special units, Baden-Württemberg's forces, Bundeswehr's Kommando Spezialkräfte, and Technisches Hilfswerk in Sachsen, along with deploying heavy machinery.
The Dresden Prosecutor's Office carried out two searches targeting the Reichsbürger movement in the Erzgebirgskreis. These operations were conducted in Seiffen and Pockau-Lengefeld. The trigger for these raids was the ongoing probe into Heinrich XIII. Prinz Reuß. At first, more information about these actions was not disclosed.
