Right-wing extremists suspected of plotting attacks on Jews, refugees

Police carrying items out of a house during a search in Berlin.

Federal prosecutors said on Wednesday that police had raided 12 apartments belonging to right-wing extremists who are suspected of planning attacks on police, asylum seekers and Jewish people.

Prosecutors said there are seven suspects in total being investigated, while 12 apartments and other locations were being searched on Wednesday morning.

The seven are between the ages of 35 and 66. Six are suspected of being part of a terrorist group, while the seventh is suspected of supporting them.

Security sources told DPA that the investigation centres around a so-called "Reichsbürger" - someone who does not recognize the government or laws of Germany. It was not clear whether the other suspects also considered themselves Reichsbürger.

The extremist from the southwest state of Baden-Württemberg allegedly formed a terrorist group and was planning to attack asylum seekers and Jewish people. The group had collected weapons and ammunition, though authorities said they do not yet have knowledge of a concrete plan.

The leader reportedly comes from Schwetzingen near Heidelberg, while another member came from northern Baden, according to DPA sources.

The suspects reportedly mainly connected with one another through social media and have been planning attacks since early 2016.

Security sources also said that the men had sometimes called one another "Celtic druids".

Around 200 police officers were deployed to search apartments in Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt and Baden-Württemberg, security sources told DPA.

The goal of the police raids was to gather further evidence that the group has an actual structure, as well as to build a potential criminal case.

People who are part of the Reichsbürger scene assert that the German Reich, or even Prussia, still exists, with some groups establishing their own "government". German intelligence considers a number of Reichsbürger to be part of the right-wing extremist scene and has been monitoring them.

The movement attracted more attention in October after a self-declared Reichsbürger shot and killed an officer during a police raid on his home.

On Wednesday the head of Germany's domestic security agency, the BfV, said that there are an estimated 10,000 Reichsbürger in the country.

BfV president Hans-Georg Maaßen told DPA that about 500 to 600 of them are believed to also be right-wing extremists.

"The Reichsbürger movement is working to be more appealing and has gained further new supporters," Maaßen said.

He also noted that members of the movement are not all the same.

"Not all of them refer to the German Reich. Frequently we have found people who want to found their own nation or community."

The BfV is now concerned with the "significant willingness to commit violence and growing aggressiveness of the scene," Maaßen added.
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What is Germany's extremist Reichsbürger movement?

https://www.thelocal.de/20170125/what-is-germanys-extremist-reichsbrger-movement
As police launched nation-wide raids on Wednesday, reportedly against a "Reichsbürger" terrorist group suspected of plotting armed attacks, here's a look at what exactly the extremist movement is about.

More crazies.

I'm looking forward to good news from around the world for a change. Wouldn't that be lovely?

Austria considers suing Germany over highway toll.

Germany's government and the European Commission have come to an agreement over German plans to impose tolls for foreign cars on its historically free autobahns.

Meanwhile, 11 EU countries under the leadership of Austria met in Brussels on Wednesday to form an alliance for a possible joint court case - arguing that the toll discriminates against foreigners.

Berlin agreed to tweak plans for the road toll scheme to make it compliant with EU rules. A variety of short-term vignettes will be available for foreigners and the toll will be cheaper for environmentally friendly cars.

Germany has imposed a toll on trucks using its roads since 2005, but it is currently one of the few European countries to allow car drivers to use its highways at no extra charge.

However, the costs of maintaining Germany’s extensive autobahn network have increased pressure to charge drivers. Germans pay for the upkeep of the autobahns through their taxes, and there has been growing resentment that foreigners can use the roads for free.

Austrian Transport Minister Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ) said that the road toll scheme is “a pure tax on foreigners” and that although Austria would consider suing Germany alone, a joint court case is preferable as “it’s about European principles".

He was also critical of the EU Commission, which was originally opposed to introducing an autobahn toll. “A principle has been violated. The rule of law, which has so far been applied in the EU, will be replaced by the law of the strongest,” he added.

Leichtfried was an MEP for 12 years, before taking over as transport minister in May 2016.

That is very interesting....and it might not be a bad idea?