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| Drugs and guns seized from extreme-right Austrian biker gangs | Drugs and guns seized from extreme-right Austrian biker gangs |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The authorities believe some of those arrested in the raids have close links to a right-wing extremist criminal group | The authorities believe some of those arrested in the raids have close links to a right-wing extremist criminal group |
| Security forces in Austria have seized hundreds of weapons, as well as Nazi flags and paraphernalia, during raids on properties linked to an extreme-right group. | |
| Six people were arrested during the operation, in which 13 properties in the provinces of Upper and Lower Austria were searched. | Six people were arrested during the operation, in which 13 properties in the provinces of Upper and Lower Austria were searched. |
| The authorities believe they are members of "outlaw motorcycle gangs". | The authorities believe they are members of "outlaw motorcycle gangs". |
| Police also found illegal drugs and more than €1m (£860,000) in cash. | Police also found illegal drugs and more than €1m (£860,000) in cash. |
| The operation took place on Monday, but official details about it were released on Thursday. | The operation took place on Monday, but official details about it were released on Thursday. |
| Among the weapons seized were "35 long firearms, 25 sub-machine guns, 100 pistols, over a thousand weapons components, 400 signal weapons", according to the interior ministry. | Among the weapons seized were "35 long firearms, 25 sub-machine guns, 100 pistols, over a thousand weapons components, 400 signal weapons", according to the interior ministry. |
| Grenade launchers and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition were also recovered. | Grenade launchers and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition were also recovered. |
| The house searches were part of a larger investigation into criminal motorcycle gangs in Austria. | |
| Pistols, grenade launchers and Nazi memorabilia were among the items seized by the authorities | Pistols, grenade launchers and Nazi memorabilia were among the items seized by the authorities |
| Interior ministry officials said they became aware in December 2022 that the Bandidos motorcycle group, an international organisation, was planning to expand into Austria. | Interior ministry officials said they became aware in December 2022 that the Bandidos motorcycle group, an international organisation, was planning to expand into Austria. |
| The ministry said similar developments in Switzerland had led to violent clashes between the Bandidos and the Hell's Angels. | The ministry said similar developments in Switzerland had led to violent clashes between the Bandidos and the Hell's Angels. |
| "The investigations have shown the extent to which right-wing extremism is represented in outlaw motorcycle gangs," said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the country's intelligence agency (DSN). | "The investigations have shown the extent to which right-wing extremism is represented in outlaw motorcycle gangs," said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the country's intelligence agency (DSN). |
| He said Monday's seizures came as Austria sees "an increasing militarisation of the extreme right-wing scene". | He said Monday's seizures came as Austria sees "an increasing militarisation of the extreme right-wing scene". |
| Police said some of those arrested in the raids had close links to the right-wing extremist criminal association known as Object 21. | Police said some of those arrested in the raids had close links to the right-wing extremist criminal association known as Object 21. |
| Austria has strict anti-Nazi legislation, which forbids activities that glorify the Third Reich, and possessing Nazi or neo-Nazi memorabilia is illegal. | Austria has strict anti-Nazi legislation, which forbids activities that glorify the Third Reich, and possessing Nazi or neo-Nazi memorabilia is illegal. |
| Austria, which was the birthplace of Adolf Hitler, was annexed to Nazi Germany in 1938 and was deeply involved in the crimes of the Third Reich. | Austria, which was the birthplace of Adolf Hitler, was annexed to Nazi Germany in 1938 and was deeply involved in the crimes of the Third Reich. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Austria | Austria |