Police carry out raids across Germany targeting far-left extremists

German police carried out searches of homes in several federal states as part of an investigation into far-left extremist groups. 

Raids took place at homes in northern and eastern Germany, the Dresden Public Prosecutor's Office and the Saxony State Criminal Police Office (LKA) said on Tuesday.

Investigators allege that 12 men aged between 18 and 36 formed a far-left group in the eastern city of Zwickau in 2022 under the name "Kollektiv Zwickau."

The group's aim was said to be to take action, both regionally and nationally, against the far right. The accused men are alleged to have conspired over a period of years to achieve their aims through criminal offences, such as assault and damage to property.

Arrest warrants had been issued for four men. According to reports, a fifth man physically assaulted a police officer during the search operation. He was taken into custody and is due to be brought before an investigating judge along with the other four.

The LKA said the aim of the searches is to secure evidence such as data storage devices or mobile phones. 

The investigations are reportedly being handled by the Dresden Public Prosecutor's Office and the Police Centre for Countering Terrorism and Extremism at the Saxony State Criminal Police Office.