Right-wing gathering in Hachenburg: Police stop explosive raid!

Right-wing gathering in Hachenburg: Police stop explosive raid!

In the Westerwald, the police carried out a major nighttime raid and broke up a meeting with a suspected right-wing extremist background. The raid took place in the so-called barrel factory in Hachenburg, where officers recorded the personal details of around 130 participants. There is a suspicion that the event was organized by a regional branch of the right-wing extremist micro-party III. way was organized.

The police had come across evidence that pointed to a martial arts event. Participants from the right spectrum, from both Germany and the Netherlands and in different age groups, including young people under 18, were present. More than 200 officers were deployed during the raid.

Martial arts and ideology

During the gathering, a boxing ring was set up and several participants appeared in typical martial arts clothing. Police spokesmen said there was a suspicion that the event served to consolidate shared ideology. It is even possible that the activities should be made more intensive and aggressive.

Although it was a sporting event in a closed room, according to police statements, this was not a gathering in the legal sense, which is why registration was not necessary. The investigation is now focusing on the right-wing extremist background of the event.

Legal violations and irregularities

No arrests were made during the five-hour raid and police reported no resistance to identity checks. However, the officers secured numerous items that clearly indicated right-wing extremist sentiments. In addition, violations of the narcotics and weapons laws were found, as drugs were found during the search, but a firearm was not found. One participant insulted an officer with the expression “dirty pig.” The area was largely cordoned off and illuminated with floodlights.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution stated in its current report that the small party III. Weg, which has existed since 2013 and now has around 800 members or followers, is characterized by National Socialist, anti-Semitic and racist ideologies. This is also expressed in their offensive rejection of the democratic constitutional state, particularly with regard to asylum and immigration issues.

The barrel factory has established itself as a right-wing hub in the Westerwald, where the III. Weg regularly holds self-defense training and bar evenings in conjunction with martial arts events in order to create networks with other right-wing extremist actors. In recent years the III. increasingly coming into the focus of the Rhineland-Palatinate Office for the Protection of the Constitution. For more information about this raid and the background to it, see the current reporting on www.lippewelle.de.