July 25, 2018

A growing movement of armed extremists known as Reichsbürger is ready to carry out acts of violence to further its aim of restoring the borders of the German Reich, the country’s domestic spy agency has said.

There are believed to be about 18,000 supporters of the far-right movement, up from 10,000 in 2016. The authorities have seized weapons and ammunition and 450 gun licences have been revoked since November 2016, according to Horst Seehofer, the interior minister.

Reichsbürger, which means citizens of the Reich, do not recognise the postwar German republic or the loss of territories including much of modern-day Poland. Some have formed small kingdoms and issue their own passports.

Read more:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/germans-fear-rise-of-armed-reich-fanatics-6wmqpj6kg