In North Rhine-Westphalia, dawn raids have been underway since early this morning in several cities targeting suspected neo-Nazis. Security sources said ten people are being named as suspects. All of them hold German citizenship. One of the accused had already been placed in pretrial detention in connection with a separate matter.
The nationwide operations in eight cities were directed at the group “Jung und Stark” (Young and Strong). The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz) was also involved in the investigation.
Since 2024, there has been a rise in violence by sometimes very young neo-Nazis, including attacks on demonstrations during Christopher Street Day (Germany’s LGBTQ Pride events). In mid-2025 the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) stated: “Police authorities from federal and state levels have observed since around the middle of last year that new youth groups are emerging within the far-right scene, initially forming in the virtual space. They are now increasingly appearing through events, disruptions, and criminal acts.”
The largest of these groups was at that time reported by security officials to be “Jung und Stark,” with a follower count in the mid three-digit range. The group “Deutsche Jugend Voran” is also in investigators’ sights. An estimated more than a hundred people are affiliated with this group. Other relevant associations include “Der Störtrupp” and the group “Letzte Verteidigungswelle.” Suspected members of the “Letzte Verteidigungswelle” are currently on trial in Hamburg for several acts of violence.
