Arrests of Additional Suspects in a Conspiracy Led by Reich Citizens, Including Prince Reuß - Attemptsto Dismantle Reichsbürgernetzwerk Association Led by Prince Reuß:
In a series of coordinated raids, German authorities have dismantled parts of the Reichsbürger network, a far-right extremist group, in an ongoing effort to prevent violent coup attempts against the federal government. The arrests, made in Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia, targeted at least three men suspected of planning an attack on the Bundestag and broader coup plots[1][3].
The Reichsbürger network, known for its deep rejection of state institutions and the free democratic basic order, has been linked to several coup attempts over the years[4]. The group aims to overthrow the federal government, replace democratic institutions with a monarchist system, and even seeks to conclude a "peace treaty" with the victorious powers of World War II for Germany[1][5].
The latest crackdown follows previous arrests related to similar coup attempts, signifying ongoing serious threats from this extremist network and the persistence of their anti-government ideology[1][5]. In Saxony and Thuringia, investigations continue, although specific arrest details there are less reported in the latest news.
The operations in these regions are part of a broader effort by German authorities to dismantle the Reichsbürger movement, which maintains a presence through fringe communities and draws on conspiracy narratives. The group is also linked indirectly to political currents such as Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD), which capitalizes on some of the frustrated sentiments that Reichsbürger rhetoric exploits[2].
In Bavaria, approximately 300 investigators searched a total of 10 locations on Thursday, seizing weapons and numerous data carriers[3]. The suspects are accused of being members or supporters of the Reuß group, which allegedly began building so-called Heimatsschutz companies for the coup[6].
The group's alleged leader, Prince Reuß, was arrested in December 2022, and the trial against the alleged leadership of the group around Prince Reuß began in Frankfurt am Main in May 2024[7]. Proceedings against 27 suspected ringleaders are currently underway in various higher regional courts.
In April 2022, the suspects allegedly participated in a shooting training session with other group members at a former military shooting range near Bayreuth. Short and long firearms were used during this training session, and investigators believe this exercise was preparation for a possible attack on the German Bundestag[5].
Six suspects, aged 40 to 61, were arrested during the searches, and charges were brought against four more alleged members of the group in Stuttgart in March[3][6]. Despite the arrests and ongoing investigations, no new detailed information about individual suspects or precise operational specifics beyond these arrests and investigations has been publicly disclosed as of early August 2025.
The Reichsbürger Network's ideology is rooted in a belief that Germany is ruled by a "conspiratorial sect of pedophile elites," adding complexity to Germany’s security challenges[8]. Authorities continue monitoring and prosecuting to prevent further attempts and protect democratic institutions from these threats.
- The Reichsbürger network, with its roots in a belief that Germany is governed by a "conspiratorial sect of pedophile elites," has been linked to various coup attempts and war-and-conflicts narratives, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and politics with stricter measures to protect democratic institutions.
- In the general news, the ongoing crackdown on the Reichsbürger network, and its associated crime-and-justice cases, such as the latest arrests in Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia, underscores the persistent threat of far-right extremist groups and the importance of judicial intervention in preserving the free democratic basic order.
