Neo-Nazi hate music network raided in sweeping searches across Europe

Police carried out searches in Germany and several other European countries on Wednesday in connection with the distribution of neo-Nazi music.

Authorities in the north-eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern said raids were launched across the country, as well as in Estonia, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic. 

Officers searched the premises of four suspects accused of membership of a far-right criminal organization. 

The quartet are alleged to have worked together since no later than 2020 on spreading a "National Socialist, anti-Semitic, racist and dehumanizing ideology through the organized, collaborative production and sale of audio recordings containing music that incites hatred."

Eight further suspects faced searches in connection with hate speech offences linked to the audio recordings produced by the alleged criminal organization, while the homes of another 10 people linked to the suspects were also raided. 

More than 390 police officers were deployed under the command of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state criminal police office.