German authorities have arrested Peter Fitzek, founder of the far-right “Kingdom of Germany,” a subgroup of the banned Reich Citizens movement, news reports said. Fitzek and three suspected ringleaders were detained following police raids in seven German states, including Saxony and Thuringia.
Fitzek, who has led the self-styled “Kingdom” since 2012, is accused of creating a parallel state and building criminal economic structures. The group, reportedly with around 6,000 members, denies the legitimacy of the modern German state.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced the ban on the group, citing its threat to democratic order and use of fake documents like passports and driver’s licenses.
Authorities have increased scrutiny of the Reich Citizens movement in recent years due to its growing radicalism. In 2022, a related group’s plan to overthrow the government was thwarted, leading to major terrorism trials beginning in April 2024.
