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| Germany police shooting: Four officers injured during raid on far-right 'Reichsbürger' in Georgensgmünd | Germany police shooting: Four officers injured during raid on far-right 'Reichsbürger' in Georgensgmünd |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A police officer is fighting for his life in Germany after being shot by a right-wing extremist during a weapons raid. | A police officer is fighting for his life in Germany after being shot by a right-wing extremist during a weapons raid. |
| The officer was one of four injured in a gun battle with a suspect named as Wolfgang P at a house in Georgensgmünd on Wednesday morning. | The officer was one of four injured in a gun battle with a suspect named as Wolfgang P at a house in Georgensgmünd on Wednesday morning. |
| Officials said police were executing a warrant to confiscate legally-owned firearms after the 49-year-old refused mandatory inspections by local authorities. | |
| A team of specialist officers launched the operation at 6am local time (5am BST) and were immediately met by gunfire. | A team of specialist officers launched the operation at 6am local time (5am BST) and were immediately met by gunfire. |
| Johann Rast, the chief of Central Franconia Police, told a press conference police found the suspect in a bedroom. | Johann Rast, the chief of Central Franconia Police, told a press conference police found the suspect in a bedroom. |
| “He was hiding behind the door and shot through the closed door,” he said. “It is not yet clear how many shots were fired.” | “He was hiding behind the door and shot through the closed door,” he said. “It is not yet clear how many shots were fired.” |
| Three hit an officer who remains in a critical condition, striking his helmet, elbow and edge of his protective vest. Another officer was shot in the arm, while two others were injured by flying glass. | Three hit an officer who remains in a critical condition, striking his helmet, elbow and edge of his protective vest. Another officer was shot in the arm, while two others were injured by flying glass. |
| Wolfgang P is believed to have been alerted to the police’s approach by blue lights and sirens, having a gun and bulletproof vest next to his bed. | Wolfgang P is believed to have been alerted to the police’s approach by blue lights and sirens, having a gun and bulletproof vest next to his bed. |
| The suspect was injured and taken into custody, with an arsenal of 30 weapons seized in subsequent searches of his home. | The suspect was injured and taken into custody, with an arsenal of 30 weapons seized in subsequent searches of his home. |
| Officials said he calls himself a “Reichsbürger”, part of a far-right movement that claims the current German state is illegitimate and is alleged to have neo-Nazi links. | Officials said he calls himself a “Reichsbürger”, part of a far-right movement that claims the current German state is illegitimate and is alleged to have neo-Nazi links. |
| Joachim Herrmann, the Bavarian interior minister, described his shock at the shooting and said it was “clear” that Wolfgang P fired before police officers. | Joachim Herrmann, the Bavarian interior minister, described his shock at the shooting and said it was “clear” that Wolfgang P fired before police officers. |
| “To be part of the Reichsbürger movement is to be a right-wing extremist,” he added. | “To be part of the Reichsbürger movement is to be a right-wing extremist,” he added. |
| “We must take a closer look at the movement. The Reichsbürgers are not being dismissed as a group of nutters. | “We must take a closer look at the movement. The Reichsbürgers are not being dismissed as a group of nutters. |
| “It is obvious that these people, who are so consumed by their ideological beliefs, are willing to use violence against police.” | “It is obvious that these people, who are so consumed by their ideological beliefs, are willing to use violence against police.” |
| Mr Herrmann said the movement has been under “intensive observation” by state intelligence services because of elements' “far-right aims”, and that surveillance would increase. | Mr Herrmann said the movement has been under “intensive observation” by state intelligence services because of elements' “far-right aims”, and that surveillance would increase. |
| Reichsbürgers adhere to their own self-declared government, known as the KRR, which issue their own version of official documents such as driving licences, while followers frequently spurn federal taxes or fines. | Reichsbürgers adhere to their own self-declared government, known as the KRR, which issue their own version of official documents such as driving licences, while followers frequently spurn federal taxes or fines. |
| They are mainly known for aggravating German authorities by pursuing obscure legal claims rather than violence, but a member was wounded during a gun battle as he was evicted from his home in August. | They are mainly known for aggravating German authorities by pursuing obscure legal claims rather than violence, but a member was wounded during a gun battle as he was evicted from his home in August. |
| Wolfgang P, who is unemployed and previously operated a martial arts school, had reportedly written “scurrilous letters” on the movement after joining in the summer. He remains in police custody. | Wolfgang P, who is unemployed and previously operated a martial arts school, had reportedly written “scurrilous letters” on the movement after joining in the summer. He remains in police custody. |
| A recent report by Berlin's state intelligence service describes the Reichsbürgers as “an extremely diverse range of small groups and individuals who believe in an ideological mixture of conspiracy theories, anti-Semitic and anti-democratic views, and who have been behaving increasingly aggressively for some time". | A recent report by Berlin's state intelligence service describes the Reichsbürgers as “an extremely diverse range of small groups and individuals who believe in an ideological mixture of conspiracy theories, anti-Semitic and anti-democratic views, and who have been behaving increasingly aggressively for some time". |
| Germany remains on a state of high alert following a series of terror attacks by Isis supporters, including a suicide bombing in Ansbach and axe attack on a train. | Germany remains on a state of high alert following a series of terror attacks by Isis supporters, including a suicide bombing in Ansbach and axe attack on a train. |
| But there is also growing concern over far-right movements, which have been gathering increasing support during tensions over the refugee crisis and sexual assaults in Cologne. | But there is also growing concern over far-right movements, which have been gathering increasing support during tensions over the refugee crisis and sexual assaults in Cologne. |
| Centres for asylum seekers have been the target of arson attacks and racist graffiti, while police uncovered a neo-Nazi plot to attack refugee accomodation with explosives last year. | Centres for asylum seekers have been the target of arson attacks and racist graffiti, while police uncovered a neo-Nazi plot to attack refugee accomodation with explosives last year. |