Raids carried out against suspected supporters of the Third Way

Ten apartments have been searched and nine suspects provisionally arrested in raids against suspected supporters of the right-wing extremist party Dritter Weg in Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony. This was announced by the police and the Berlin public prosecutor's office. The suspects, aged between 17 and 21, are said to belong to the so-called National Revolutionary Youth Revolutionaries (NRJ), the youth organization of the Third Way.

The case is based on various acts of violence. One was an attack on several people at Ostkreuz S-Bahn station on July 6. When two federal police officers intervened, they were also attacked, according to the authorities. Several people were injured and had to be treated. The suspects, who initially fled unidentified, were later identified, according to a statement. The suspects are also accused of involvement in a robbery in January. A 20-year-old man was allegedly attacked and robbed for political reasons.

The police operation involving 130 officers led to the arrest of all suspects and the execution of all warrants in Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony, the statement added. Mobile devices, digital storage media, clothing, a vehicle and dangerous objects such as alarm guns, striking tools, gloves and stun guns were seized. Propaganda material was also found.

However, no arrest warrants are to be applied for, a spokesperson for the Berlin public prosecutor's office said on request. Instead, the suspects will be released after the police measures have been completed. The investigation is being conducted by the police state security department, which is responsible for political offenses.