Germany: Five Arrests for Far-Right Terrorist Organization – Including Minors

Five individuals aged between 14 and 18, members of a ‘terrorist organization,’ were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday (May 21) during raids conducted across four German states, under the authority of the federal prosecutor. The raids took place in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Hesse, and Thuringia targeting wanted members of the group ‘Last Wave Defense,’ which was established in April 2024 and is considered the most radical far-right youth organization in Germany, with a central ideology focused on ‘defending the German nation.’ According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, this is an ‘extreme right-wing terrorist organization’ with particularly dangerous activities. Among the arrested are a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old from Brandenburg accused of arson at a cultural center in Alt Demmin last October. Two 18-year-olds attacked a refugee accommodation center in Thuringia with stones and fireworks. Another young individual from Saxony is believed to have planned an attack on a similar facility in Zwenberg, having acquired high-explosive bombs for that purpose. The organization operates mainly through chat groups on communication platforms. Prospective members must prove they have already committed a crime, such as assaulting a migrant, displaying swastikas or Nazi symbols, or committing arson, providing visual evidence of their actions. Discussions glorify National Socialism and promote mass violence, while also supporting the disclosure of personal information about pedophiles. As reported by Germany’s public broadcaster ARD, not all members of the organization have been identified yet, but it is estimated that there are around 200 members nationwide. Since last month, the ‘Last Wave Defense’ has been classified by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office as an ‘extreme right-wing terrorist organization,’ with investigations led by the ‘Deich’ team within the Federal Criminal Police Office. Although not the only group of its kind, it is currently considered the ‘worst.’ In recent years, dozens of extremist youth organizations have formed, including the ‘German Youth Forward,’ ‘Halfway Chaos,’ ‘Elbrand Revolution,’ and ‘German Assault Group.’ According to the latest data from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, politically motivated criminality has significantly increased across all areas, especially within far-right circles.