Germany: 5 arrested for forming right-wing terror group

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AP Berlin
Last Updated : Apr 19 2016 | 2:29 PM IST
Five people were arrested in Germany today on suspicion of founding a right-wing terror group to attack refugee homes and other facilities, prosecutors said.
Federal prosecutors said that the "Freital Group," named after a suburb of the eastern city of Dresden that has seen a string of anti-refugee protests and other incidents, was formed in July last year or earlier.
They said several apartments in the state of Saxony were searched alongside the arrests of the five German nationals four men and a woman aged between 18 and 39.
The group acquired more than 100 firecrackers of various types from the Czech Republic, prosecutors said in a statement.
They said members are believed to have carried out three attacks in September and October - two on refugee homes in Freital and the other on a left-wing housing project in Dresden in which windows were blown out and one asylum-seeker suffered cuts to the face.
Prosecutors are looking into whether they were behind any further attacks.
The suspects were identified only as Justin S., Rico K., Maria K., Sebastian W. And Mike S. In line with German privacy rules.
As well as membership in a terrorist organization, they are also suspected of offenses including attempted murder, bodily harm and bringing about explosions.
Three other men including the group's two alleged leaders are suspected of co-founding the "Freital Group" and are already in custody on suspicion of causing an explosion.
Germany saw a surge in far-right attacks over the past year amid a huge influx of refugees and other migrants.
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First Published: Apr 19 2016 | 2:29 PM IST