German ban for far-right group 'that fights against constitution'

The German government yesterday outlawed a major part of an extremist movement seeking to undermine the state in a move it said signaled tough action against a growing subversive far-right scene.

- Deborah Cole

Hundreds of security forces across seven states staged early morning raids against Königreich Deutschland (kingdom of Germany) or KRD, a large group within the Reichsbürger (citizens of the Reich) movement. Four suspects were arrested including the alleged ringleader, Peter Fitzek, the self-proclaimed Peter I. "This is illegal and unlawful," Fitzek told Spiegel TV as he was led away in handcuffs.

The interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, said the KRD, which is estimated to have 6,000 members, had created a counterstate in Germany and established "criminal economic structures" that challenged the rule of law and the justice system.

"We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order," Dobrindt, who took office last week as part of a new coalition government, said in a statement.