Berlin. The N'Hamed Brigade is accused of terrorist activities against the Eritrean government. Searches are currently underway in six German states.
Since the early morning hours, searches on suspicion of terrorism have been underway in six German states . The Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses 17 suspects of founding or being members of a domestic terrorist organization. The Karlsruhe-based authority announced that this is a group with international connections whose goal is to overthrow the government in Eritrea.
The organization allegedly coordinated violent riots at the so-called Eritrea Festivals in Giessen on August 20, 2022, and in August 2023, as well as at the seminar of an Eritrean association in Stuttgart in September 2023. Numerous police officers were injured, some seriously. Some members of the association considered violence against German state institutions and representatives of state power—such as police officers—a legitimate means, the press release states.
Raid on Eritrean association – searches also abroad
A total of 19 properties were searched – eight in Hesse , four in North Rhine-Westphalia , three in Bavaria , two in Baden-Württemberg , and one each in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Rhineland-Palatinate . Another search was taking place simultaneously in Denmark . No arrests were made.
Another defendant, who is said to have held a leadership position within the N'Hamedu Brigade in both the Netherlands and Germany, was recently sentenced to several years in prison by a Dutch court for his involvement in riots on February 17, 2024 in The Hague , it was reported.
jst/dpa