Searches at right-wing extremist martial arts group
Investigators have been carrying out a major operation against suspected right-wing extremists in Thuringia and eastern Hesse since Wednesday morning. The main focus of the measures is Eisenach, with further properties being searched in the Jena area and in eastern Hesse, as the Thuringia State Criminal Police Office (LKA) announced on Wednesday. The investigation is directed against twelve suspects aged between 16 and 59. They are accused of membership and support of the "Knockout 51" association as well as violent offenses and violations of the Weapons Act.
According to the State Criminal Police Office, "Knockout 51" is a martial arts group in Eisenach that belongs to the extreme right-wing spectrum. According to the Federal Public Prosecutor General, the group is said to have focused on assaulting and killing attackers from the far-left camp from April 2021 at the latest.
On Wednesday morning, an arrest warrant was executed against a 21-year-old man. The man was arrested in Eisenach. A total of around 200 officers were involved in the operation.
The investigation against the "Knockout 51" associates uncovered alleged instances of violent crimes and weapons law violations, indicative of extreme right-wing extremism. These criminal activities demonstrate the potential danger of extremist ideologies encouraging violence in society.
Source: www.dpa.com
