Germany bans right-wing group spreading neo-Nazi ideology

The headquarters of the group, dubbed "Artgemeinschaft," as well as 26 homes belonging to 39 members were searched in the early hours across 12 states,

 Wreaths are pictured at the Gleis 17 (Platform 17) memorial, a platform at Berlin-Grunewald train station from where Jewish citizens were deported by train to the Nazi concentration camps between 1941 and 1945, in Berlin, Germany, January 27, 2021 (photo credit: REUTERS/FABRIZIO BENSCH)
Wreaths are pictured at the Gleis 17 (Platform 17) memorial, a platform at Berlin-Grunewald train station from where Jewish citizens were deported by train to the Nazi concentration camps between 1941 and 1945, in Berlin, Germany, January 27, 2021
(photo credit: REUTERS/FABRIZIO BENSCH)

German authorities raided dozens of locations nationwide on Wednesday after interior minister Nancy Faeser banned a right-wing extremist group accused of spreading Nazi ideology.

The headquarters of the group, dubbed "Artgemeinschaft," as well as 26 homes belonging to 39 members were searched in the early hours across 12 states, the interior ministry said in a statement.

"This is another hard blow against right-wing extremism and against the intellectual arsonists who continue to spread Nazi ideologies to this day," Faeser said.

 A person uses a placard to cover from the sun as people gather on the day of the European election assembly 2023 of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Magdeburg, Germany, July 29, 2023.  (credit: REUTERS/ANNEGRET HILSE)
A person uses a placard to cover from the sun as people gather on the day of the European election assembly 2023 of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Magdeburg, Germany, July 29, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/ANNEGRET HILSE)

"This right-wing extremist group has tried to raise new enemies of the constitution with its disgusting indoctrination of children and young people."

German crackdown on extremist groups

German authorities this month banned another neo-Nazi group, "Hammerskins Deutschland" with roots in the United States and raided the homes of 28 members after an investigation lasting more than a year in cooperation with US officials.