SPD General Secretary Kühnert along with other politicians on the Reich Citizens’ List

Berlin, Karlsruhe SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert has confirmed that his name was on a list found among Reich citizens. The Federal Criminal Police Office informed him on Wednesday, Kühnert told Reuters.

The “daily newspaper” had previously reported that the people arrested on Wednesday were apparently operating with enemy lists. There were 18 names on a list, including Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), SPD leader Saskia Esken, Kühnert and CDU politician Armin Laschet.

During nationwide searches, 25 people were arrested on Wednesday as members or supporters of a suspected terrorist organization. They are said to have planned a political coup and an armed attack on the Bundestag.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Interior pointed out that there is already a simple security check for all newly hired employees of the Federal Criminal Police Office.

The federal police are also introducing such a rule. On the question of a nationwide observation of the AfD, she referred to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

“Very bad incident” – Scholz on the arrest of the ex-AfD MPs

After the large-scale anti-terror raid on the “Reichsbürger” scene, CSU boss Markus Söder warned of serious dangers for the country and democracy – and also severely criticized the AfD. The “Reichsbürger” networks would have to be “absolutely drained to the last” nationally and regionally,” said Söder on Friday after a meeting of the CSU board of directors in Munich.

Söder: “AfD closely interwoven”

“Everything has to be clarified,” warned Söder, adding: It must be clarified what kind of party the AfD actually is. “The AfD is closely intertwined with this scene, personally. It is increasingly developing into a reservoir for such right-wing extremist forces in particular, it almost attracts them.”

Admittedly, not all AfD members are right-wing extremists. “But all those who try to take action against right-wing extremism in the AfD are sorted out, voted out and marginalized in their party. Which is difficult anyway, because the whole AfD operates on the fringes in every respect,” criticized the Bavarian Prime Minister. Therefore, all efforts by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution to deal with the AfD must be intensified and strengthened, he demanded.

Markus Soder

The CSU CEO Markus Söder called for increased efforts by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution to deal with the AfD.

(Photo: dpa)

Some made fun of the fantasies of the “Reich citizens” or “any worn-out princes,” said Söder. “But the risk is immense. This is about guns. This involves plans to kidnap and maybe even kill. This is also about the participation of people who have experience in handling weapons,” warned the CSU chairman. “Since this week it has been clear that there are huge dangers for our country, huge dangers for democracy and, above all, even for life and limb.”

Bundestag will deal with “Reichsbürger” raid next week

In the coming week, the Bundestag will be dealing with the major raid against alleged “Reich citizens” in several special sessions. At the request of the Union faction, the case is to be discussed on Monday both in the internal committee and in the legal committee. The Greens are also pushing for the group’s plans, which have now been uncovered, to be discussed in a current session in the plenary session of the Bundestag.

“According to current knowledge, the exposed terrorist network has prepared targeted attacks on the German Bundestag and thus the heart of democracy,” said the parliamentary director of the Greens parliamentary group, Irene Mihalic, on Friday. Therefore, the Bundestag should soon deal with “the threat to democracy from networks of Reich citizens and other right-wing extremists”.

Not only does the ongoing investigation have to be discussed, but also the political consequences, security policy measures and the need for action by society. “The traffic light partners will decide on the current hour in their parliamentary group committees at the beginning of the week,” announced the interior politician.

The Union faction in the Bundestag also wants to talk about passing on information before the raid in the legal committee. “Punctured internal investigations endanger the investigations and damage the rule of law,” said the legal policy spokesman for the parliamentary group, Günter Krings (CDU), the news portal t-online. “If media representatives were informed in advance of the search measures and arrests carried out, this must be investigated and clarified.”

A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior said: “Operations like the one that took place there are always associated with a possible threat to the emergency services.” Forwarding information about this in advance was “irresponsible”.

Federal prosecutors arrested 25 people

On Wednesday, the federal prosecutor had 25 people arrested in one of the largest police operations in the history of the Federal Republic in eleven federal states as well as in Italy and Austria. She accuses 22 of them of being a member of a terrorist organization that wanted to overthrow the political system.

The other three are about support. The federal prosecutor also spoke of 27 other suspects. The entrepreneur Heinrich XIII is considered a ringleader. Prince Reuss of Hesse.

The federal prosecutor’s office has initiated extradition proceedings against two men arrested in the course of the “Reichsbürger” raid in Austria and Italy. It was not clear on Friday when the two could be brought before the investigating judges of the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe.

“Reich citizens” are people who do not recognize the Federal Republic and its democratic structures. They often refuse to pay taxes and are often in conflict with authorities. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution ascribes around 21,000 followers to the scene.

More: ‘Loss of retirement benefits’ – traffic light politicians for crackdown on extremist officials

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