In brief
Five teenagers have been arrested in Germany for their involvement in a neo-Nazi group that orchestrated arson attacks against buildings housing asylum seekers, marking a disturbing trend of youth engagement in far-right extremism.
The police in Germany have apprehended five teenagers in a significant raid targeting a neo-Nazi group formed by minors. This group, named the Last Wave of Defense, has been linked to a series of arson attacks on facilities occupied by asylum seekers. Federal prosecutors highlighted the alarming rise in politically motivated crimes, which have reached levels not seen for nearly twenty years.The suspects, all male and aged between 14 and 18, were taken into custody during coordinated pre-dawn operations across three states in eastern and central Germany. Among the detained, three are said to be leading figures within the group; another three members had already been previously arrested. The identity of those arrested has not been disclosed, in compliance with stringent German privacy laws. Notably, two of the suspects face charges of attempted murder and arson.According to the prosecutors, the young offenders exhibited adequate responsibility in their actions, which raises concerns regarding the growing attraction of far-right ideologies among youth. The investigation, which spanned several months, involved over 220 law enforcement officials and led to the search of 13 locations across four provinces. Germany's justice minister, Stefanie Hubig, expressed her worries about the low age of the suspects who founded this extremist group.
