According to a media report, number of so-called Imperial citizens has increased significantly. Currently about 18,000 people in Germany belonged to scene, said a spokesman of Federal Office for Constitutional Protection (BfV) to Berlin Tagesspiegel. About 950 of m are refore classified as right extreme.

2016 federal Office had written in its annual report still from 10,000 imperial citizens, including 500 to 600 right-wing extremists. In January 2018, President of Constitution, Hans-Georg Maaßen, quantified total number with 16,500, of which around 900 are considered right-wing extremists.

The so-called Imperial citizens do not recognize Federal Republic as a state. They address Basic law, authorities and courts legitimacy and do not accept official decisions. The movement is regarded as hazardous to safety and has been observed since autumn 2016 by protection of Constitution.

Armament alerts authorities

According to Tagesspiegel report, armament of many imperial citizens is a cause of concern to authorities. According to BfV spokesman, about 1,200 Reich citizens possess weapons legal permits. Since beginning of 2017, protection of Constitution has succeeded in depriving 450 of citizens ' permission.

In October 2016, Reich citizen Wolfgang P. Had shot a police officer in Bavarian Georgensgmünd when a special SWAT wanted to take away his arsenal of weapons to man. He was sentenced to a lifelong prison sentence in October 2017.

Two months earlier, Reich citizen Adrian U. had delivered a shootout with police officers when officials assisted a bailiff in evicting land from U. Three officials were easily injured in incident in Reuden (Saxony-Anhalt), and came to hospital with several gunshot wounds.

Date Of Update: 29 April 2018, 12:02