A radical Telegram group is said to have planned the kidnapping of Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).
(Photo: IMAGO/Jens Schicke)
Mainz In several federal states, investigators have taken action against members of a chat group that is said to have planned bomb attacks and kidnapping “well-known public figures”. Among other things, the Telegram group also planned the kidnapping of Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).
The investigators reported on Thursday in Mainz under the leadership of the Attorney General Koblenz and the State Criminal Police Office of Rhineland-Palatinate. A total of twelve people are being investigated, the main suspects are said to be from Neustadt/Weinstrasse in Rhineland-Palatinate and from Brandenburg. According to the investigators, the Telegram chat group has a total of around 70 members.
Lauterbach, who has repeatedly reported threats against him, does not want to be intimidated by the alleged kidnapping plans. “Some Covid deniers are not concerned with the fight against vaccinations or corona requirements. They are fighting against our basic democratic order,” the SPD politician told the “Bild am Sonntag”.
“But they won’t be able to do that. I will not let this deter me, but will continue to support the entire population. This example shows how divided our society is. Overcoming this division and regaining trust remains the goal of my policy.”
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Searches of dozens of apartments
On Wednesday there were searches in 20 properties in Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Bavaria, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia. Around 270 officers, including special units, were deployed.
Accordingly, Germans aged 55, 54, 50, 42 and 41 are accused of preparing a serious act of violence that is dangerous to the state and of violating the Weapons and War Weapons Control Act.
The people of the Corona protest scene and the Reich Citizens’ Movement can be assigned. Weapons, ammunition, cash, gold bars and silver coins were seized during the searches. Four suspects were arrested and arrest warrants had been applied for.
Specifically, the United Patriots chat group is said to have planned to destroy power supply facilities in order to trigger a nationwide power outage. “According to the accused, this should cause civil war-like conditions and ultimately overthrow the democratic system in Germany,” said the statement from the Attorney General and the State Criminal Police Office of Rhineland-Palatinate. Investigations against the group have been ongoing since October last year
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