Killing the Messengers
GERMANY
German police arrested a half dozen individuals and confiscated weapons during raids this week after members of a radical anti-vaccination group allegedly plotted to assassinate the governor of the eastern state of Saxony, NPR reported.
The raids in the eastern cities of Dresden and Heidenau came after members of the “Dresden Offlinevernetzung” – or Dresden offline network – had discussed killing state premier Michael Kretschmer on the online platform Telegram.
Authorities arrested five members and one woman, and found a number of weapons and a crossbow after searching residences and workplaces, according to the Washington Post.
Police said the suspects were preparing “a severe anti-state violent crime,” adding that the individuals rejected immunization and current anti-coronavirus measures.
Germany is facing resistance over new Covid-19 regulations and plans to make vaccinations mandatory for people working in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical institutions beginning in March.
Alongside Kretschmer, other politicians and health officials – including the country’s head of infectious diseases – have faced death threats.
Many anti-vaccination activists and pandemic deniers have been organizing via Telegram, prompting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to threaten the company if it didn’t comply with German regulations on hate speech.
Meanwhile, new Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the new radical movements and warned that Germany “will not put up with a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists trying to force their will on our entire society.”
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