Militant German soldiers under investigation for alleged violent raids
In a significant development, police raids were conducted across three federal states in Germany on September 17, 2025, targeting suspects linked to the right-wing extremist group "Nordbund." The investigations, led by the Central Office for Combating Terrorism of the General Prosecutor's Office in Celle and the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office, focused on the evaluation of electronic data carriers and detailed firearms examinations.
The raids, involving anti-terror investigators and special police forces, were carried out at 14 locations across Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia. Eight suspects, aged between 32 and 57, are suspected of forming and participating in an armed group based on an alleged right-wing extremist ideology.
Four of the suspects are additionally suspected of possessing illegal war weapons and other fully automatic firearms. Several live short and long firearms were seized during the raids, but no weapons that fall under the War Weapons Control Act were found during the initial assessment by the State Criminal Police Office.
The connection between the suspects remains unanswered due to ongoing investigations. It is unclear what the exact nature of the alleged crimes or activities of the suspects is. However, the media had reported about the suspected right-wing extremist group "Nordbund" before the raids, and the raid is related to previous investigations into the group.
The General Prosecutor's Office spokesperson did not provide further details about the ongoing investigation. A pistol and ammunition were previously seized from one of the suspects by the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office at the end of April. Weapons and data carriers are still being examined in relation to the raid.
The suspects include two active and two former Bundeswehr soldiers, a federal police officer, and unspecified others. The alleged right-wing extremist ideology of the group is under suspicion. The General Prosecutor's Office in Celle confirmed the information upon request. No further details about the ongoing investigation have been provided by the General Prosecutor's Office spokesperson.
