UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS
BERLIN (AA) - A group of far-right figures and ex-military officers, who plotted a coup in Germany, had procured weapons and they had concrete plans, the country’s domestic intelligence chief has said.
“This group had a large network across the country, they had precise plans, they had been prepared to use violence, even if that meant killing people,” Thomas Haldenwang told public broadcaster ZDF on Wednesday night.
He said the group has been under the scrutiny of the security agencies in the past couple of months, and authorities decided to launch an anti-terror operation as it became clear that the group had concrete plans to overthrow the government by violent means.
German police arrested more than two dozen people on Wednesday in one of the biggest anti-terror operations in its history and conducted searches at 150 properties in 11 federal states.
During the searches at 50 properties, the police found weapons and ammunition, including handguns and long guns, Holger Munch, president of the Federal Criminal Police Office, told ZDF.
He said the authorities have so far identified 54 suspects who were members or supporters of the terror group, adding that investigations will continue in the coming days probably with new searches and arrests.
According to prosecutors, the far-right terror group had plans to create a nationwide chaos and storm the German parliament by violence and military means with the goal of overthrowing the democratic, constitutional system in Germany.
The majority of the suspects were followers of the far-right Reichsburger (Reich Citizens) movement, who reject the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany, and they believe that the country is governed by members of a so-called “deep state.”
- Group’s leader: A 71-year-old aristocrat
According to prosecutors, Heinrich Reuss – a descendant of a noble family also known as Prince Heinrich XIII – was the leading figure in the group.
Local media reported that the 71-year-old aristocrat was known for his sympathy towards the Reichsburger movement and promoted far-right and conspiratorial ideas.
He allegedly held various meetings with the plotters in his small castle in Saaldorf, in the central German state of Thuringia, and was planning to become the leader of the country after the coup.
His life partner Vitalia B., a Russian citizen, was accused of helping the group and trying to facilitate contacts with the Russian government.
But according to prosecutors, the group did not get any positive response from Russian diplomats in Germany for their attempts to establish contacts.
- Military wing of group
The far-right group included several ex-military officers, one active soldier from the Special Forces Command, two non-active soldiers, and several reservists, according to initial investigations.
Prosecutors said former German military officer Rudiger von Pescatore was leading the armed wing of the group.
The 69-year-old lieutenant-colonel was responsible for the recruitment and procurement of arms and munitions for the planned actions, according to prosecutors.
Retired army officer Maximillan Eder, former Special Forces Command soldier Peter Worner, and former police officer Michael Fritsch were also among the suspects.
- Plans for post-coup regime
According to prosecutors, the group held regular meetings to discuss their plans, even nominating a cabinet for a post-coup regime.
Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, a former lawmaker of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), was among the suspects and she was to be the justice minister of the coup regime, authorities said.
The 58-year-old was a member of parliament in 2017-2021, after which she returned to her previous post as a judge at the Berlin district court.
Another suspect, Tim Paul Gorgass, also a legal expert, was picked to be the foreign minister in the new government.
Authorities said that as of Thursday, 23 of the suspects were in custody, with 22 accused of being members of the terror organization.