Operation in five states against banned neo-Nazi association Artgemeinschaft in Germany

A new operation has been carried out in Germany against the neo-Nazi association Artgemeinschaft, whose activities were banned in 2023. According to information from the Halle Public Prosecutor's Office, searches were conducted in five states as part of an investigation into suspicions that the association has continued its activities despite the ban.

It was stated that the investigation covers 15 suspects, who are accused of supporting the association. The searches were reportedly carried out at various addresses in the states of Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg, and Lower Saxony.

According to a report by Spiegel, the searches also included Simon Lansmann and Sebastian Koch, who were candidates for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the city of Gardelegen during the Saxony-Anhalt state elections.

The report alleged that during an event hosted by Lansmann in June, police checked entries and identified individuals linked to Artgemeinschaft. It was claimed that a ceremony reminiscent of the association's rituals was held at the same event and that a song belonging to the Hitler Youth from the Nazi Germany era was sung.

The German Interior Ministry banned Artgemeinschaft in September 2023. The ministry stated that the association was against the constitutional order and possessed neo-Nazi, racist, xenophobic, and anti-democratic characteristics.

News Source: 12punto