Operations against far-right organizations and groups in Germany were this time carried out against suspects operating in the music industry.
According to the statement made by the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State State Criminal Police Office (LKA), in the morning, an operation was carried out against a far-right group that praises the Nazi period and produces and sells racist and anti-human music, with the participation of approximately 400 police officers in many states in Germany, especially Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria, and neighboring countries.
During simultaneous operations, 33 thousand CDs, records and cassettes with a total value exceeding 2 million euros were seized. More than 20 thousand of the materials in question were seized at the homes of 4 suspects, aged 55, 52, 48 and 43.
In the LKA statement, it was stated that the investigation was aimed at the production and sale of music that supports "an anti-Semitic, racist and anti-human ideology that glorifies the Nazi period."
Stating that the suspects have established an association to produce and market musical content that has been the subject of accusation since 2020, the Criminal Division also announced that the suspects were accused of being members of a right-wing extremist criminal organization.
It was stated in the statement that the homes of 4 suspects from the far-right rock music community were searched during the operations in Germany, and that many records containing Nazi ideology were found.
In the statement, it was noted that within the scope of the operation, properties belonging to 8 suspects in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony and Thuringia were also searched, and that these people were accused of encouraging hate speech in connection with the music distributed.
In the information provided regarding the entire operations throughout Germany, it was stated that the total value of the seized CDs, records, cassettes and 130 pieces of IT equipment was more than 2 million euros. It was also noted that 11 thousand euros in cash were seized during the operations.
It was stated in the statement that the Nazi music operation also had an overseas leg, and that the far-right group used some companies to produce and reproduce music content in Estonia, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic. However, it was emphasized that companies in these countries were not aware of the content of music containing Nazi praise. It was stated that the investigation against the suspects continues and an arrest warrant may be issued in line with the decision of the judicial authorities.
In his statement after the operation, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Minister of Internal Affairs Christian Pegel said that far-right music is much more than entertainment. "It spreads hatred, reaches especially young people, and can encourage radicalization and networking. This is exactly why we will not close our eyes to such formations," Pegel said.
