(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, MAY 13 - German authorities on Tuesday
launched multiple raids against an extremist network and
dissolved the so-called "Kingdom of Germany", the interior
ministry said. The Federal Prosecutor's Office also announced
the arrest of four people during the raids, including three
founding members of the group. Described as "dangerous
extremists" by the ministry, the Kingdom of Germany is part of
the German conspiracy movement known as the "Citizens of the
Reich", which rejects the legitimacy of the modern German
republic. Its members believe in the continued existence of the
pre-World War I German Reich. The ministry declared the
dissolution of the group, which was accused of "attacking the
liberal democratic order". Raids were launched in seven regions
targeting the group, which has approximately 6,000 supporters.
Authorities said its adherents "deny the existence of the
Federal Republic of Germany and reject its legal system". The
ministry said the group was banned because "its objectives and
activities are contrary to criminal law and run counter to the
constitutional order". They said that over the past 10 years,
the group had established "pseudo-state structures and
institutions", including its own currency, identity papers and
insurance system. (ANSA-AFP).
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