Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Marc Kleine-Kleffmann AP
Germany

Four German police officers wounded in gunfire exchange with right-wing extremist

The 49-year-old alleged gunman belonged to the far-right “Citizens of the Reich” group.

FOUR GERMAN POLICE officers were wounded, some of them seriously, when a member of the far-right “Citizens of the Reich” group opened fire during a raid today, authorities said.

The 49-year-old alleged gunman belonging to the so-called Reichsbuerger movement was also slightly injured in the exchange of gunfire in the Bavarian town of Georgensmuend and taken into custody, police said in a statement.

Local authorities had ordered the seizure of the man’s firearms, for which he had a permit, because they were deemed to be “faulty”.

State interior minister Joachim Herrmann will brief the media later today.

Eviction order

This was the second incident in three months involving the Reichsbuerger, which does not recognise the legitimacy of the German republic and believes in the continued existence of the German empire or “Reich”.

In August, a member of the group – a former Mister Germany pageant winner – opened fire on police carrying out an eviction order at his house in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

The suspect was seriously wounded and three police officers suffered light injuries.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany’s domestic security watchdog which keeps tabs on extremist groups, said it had no current figures on the number of Reichsbuerger members.

- © AFP 2016.

Read: Two killed and six injured after explosion at world’s biggest chemical complex in Germany>

Read: Suspect in German bomb plot found dead in cell>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
30
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.