UPDATE 3 - Germany arrests far-right suspects, ex-soldiers over coup plot

UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS OF FEDERAL PUBLIC PROSECUTOR GENERAL, DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - German police arrested a group of far-right figures and ex-military officers for planning attacks to create nationwide chaos and seize power, authorities said on Wednesday.

Twenty-five suspects were arrested after coordinated raids in 11 federal states, including Thuringia, Hesse, and Lower Saxony, the Federal Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

The majority of the suspects were followers of the far-right Reichsburger (Reich Citizens) movement, and they formed a terror group last year to overthrow the democratic, constitutional system in Germany, the prosecutors said.

In the large-scale raids, 3,000 security officers did searches at houses and offices of more than 50 suspects to gather evidence, and authorities seized various documents and electronic devices.

“According to our current knowledge, the group aimed to overthrow the current system in Germany, the free and democratic order, by violence and military means,” said Federal Public Prosecutor General Peter Frank.

“Several members of this terrorist group had considered using violence to occupy the Bundestag” or German parliament, he told a news conference in Karlsruhe.

Local media reported that active and former members of the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, were among those arrested on Wednesday.

German Defense Ministry spokesman Arne Collatz confirmed that at least three soldiers were among the suspects, adding that one was from the Special Forces Command and two others were inactive soldiers.

- Plans for post-coup regime

According to the prosecutors, Heinrich Reuss – a descendant of a noble family also known as Prince Heinrich XIII – was the leading figure in the group.

Together with former German military officer Rudiger von P., they planned a military coup to overthrow the government and achieve “system change” in the country, the prosecutors said.

The suspects held regular meetings and discussed their plans, and even nominated 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 coup regime justice minister, authorities said.

One of the suspects was identified as Russian citizen Vitalia B., and prosecutors have alleged that the group contacted Russian diplomats in Germany to discuss their views on a new order.

“The accused Heinrich XIII has already contacted representatives of the Russian Federation in Germany. However, according to the investigations carried out so far, there are no indications that the persons contacted responded positively to his request,” the prosecutors said.

According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, the suspects adhered to a “conglomerate of conspiracy theories” including elements from the US’ QAnon conspiracy and the Reichsburger movement.

“They are firmly convinced that Germany is currently governed by members of a so-called deep state,” the prosecutors said.

The members of the Reichsburger movement are groups and individuals who reject the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany and its legal system for various motives and believe that it is still occupied by the Allied powers.

Many refuse to pay taxes and they are often in conflict with authorities. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency estimates that the scene has around 21,000 followers.

* Oliver Towfigh Nia contributed to this story