Police nabs 3 in major push against extremists in German football

 

BERLIN – A special German police unit set up to combat right-wing extremism has made three arrests among radical football fans in the Ore Mountains region near the Czech border, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

A total of 34 suspects aged between 17 and 23 were under investigation by police in the eastern state of Saxony, prosecutors in the state capital of Dresden said.

The premises of five of the suspects in various locations were searched. No further details were released.

The group is believed to have set up a criminal association called “Strong Youth” at the latest in February last year. Crimes, including disturbance of the peace, robbery and serious assault, have been linked to the group.

Four of the five persons targeted by searches are known to police in connection with right-wing extremist crimes.

Strong Youth is seen as part of an extremist group linked to a local football club. The group is alleged to attack fans of other clubs and to resist police in their work.