Police are investigating Sellner
Accompanied by protests, right-wing extremist Martin Sellner presents his book in Saarbrücken. Suddenly, he appears at the counter-demonstration and shouts into the crowd. Because he may have shown the Hitler salute, the police are now investigating.
The police in Saarland are investigating a possible banned Hitler salute by Austrian right-wing extremist Martin Sellner. Investigations have been initiated on suspicion of using symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, the police in Saarbrücken announced.
Sellner was in the Saarland state capital on Thursday evening to present a self-penned book. The group "Grandmas Against the Right" registered a demonstration against the private event. According to police reports, Sellner "provocatively" joined the counter-demonstration. Witnesses claim he stood on a wall and shouted into the crowd, urging them to read his book. He was filmed and photographed by several people. Afterwards, several of these recordings were handed over to the police with the indication that they showed Sellner performing a Hitler salute.
Sellner is a leading figure of the right-wing extremist Identitarian movement in the German-speaking world. According to investigations by the Correctiv network, he was also a speaker at the secret meeting in Potsdam in November, where the mass expulsion of people with migration backgrounds from Germany was allegedly discussed.
Consequently, the city of Potsdam imposed an entry and residence ban on Sellner in March. He successfully challenged this in an urgent procedure before the Potsdam Administrative Court. As the city of Potsdam did not appeal, the decision became legally binding.
The investigation into Sellner's actions in Saarbrücken includes allegations of using symbols associated with unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, due to the crime of displaying banned symbols. Additionally, the violent rhetoric and provocative actions during the counter-demonstration, including shouting and possible salutes, are also under scrutiny by the authorities.
