Germany: Weapons confiscated from a suspect linked to Reich Citizens movement
German police confiscated a number of weapons and ammunition belonging to a person linked to the far-right Reich Citizens movement.
The Public Prosecutor Wolf-Thielmann Baumert said on Friday that documents and other evidence found in raids in the city of Wuppertal in western Germany indicate that the 52-year-old was at least a believer in conspiracy theories linked to the position of the Reich Citizens movement.
Baumert told the German News Agency that although the man is a hunter, most of the weapons weren’t registered on his gun license and were therefore illegal.
Meanwhile, a photo published by police showed 18 long- and short-barreled weapons seized from two residential properties.
In addition, “a significant amount of ammunition” of calibers that cannot be used in hunting rifles was also found, Baumert said.
The person is now being investigated for weapons law violations, but has been released while investigations continue; If charged and convicted, he faces a fine or imprisonment.
Last December, prosecutors filed the first criminal charges against a total of 27 people who were arrested during highly publicized raids against suspected members of the Reich Citizens movement.
The Reich citizens movement doesn’t recognize the Federal Republic of Germany and its democratic structures, doesn’t recognize the legitimacy of the German Law, the authorities and the courts, don’t accept official decisions, and wish to overthrow the government.
