Germany Conducts Nationwide Raids on Far-Right Youth Groups
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May 6, 2026 - German police carried out nationwide searches targeting members of two far-right youth organizations, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday. Authorities searched the homes of 36 suspected members of Deutsche Jugend Voran (DJV) and Jung und Stark (JS) as part of an inquiry into the possible formation of a criminal organization.
More than 600 officers were involved, searching roughly 50 locations across 12 federal states. Prosecutors said most suspects are teenagers or young adults and that some are already known for violent conduct. Investigators allege groups of suspects attacked people associated with the left-wing scene and others they suspected of being pedophiles; victims were reportedly beaten by multiple assailants and suffered significant injuries.
Prosecutors say DJV and JS emerged in mid-2024 alongside other regionally and nationally organized far-right youth groups and have been on the security services' radar since. Each group is estimated to have several hundred members. DJV is said to be largely concentrated in Berlin and Brandenburg and has been accused of organizing disruptive actions at Christopher Street Day events.
No arrests were planned at the time of the searches, which officials described as intended to clarify the existing grounds for suspicion. The nationwide operation aimed to gather evidence and determine whether the organizations meet the legal threshold to be classified and prosecuted as criminal organizations.