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In North Rhine-Westphalia, authorities are investigating 29 police officers for spreading and receiving far-right propaganda. All officials were immediately suspended from their duties, Interior Minister Herbert Reul said.
More than 200 North Rhine-Westphalia police officers raided colleagues who allegedly spread the agitation of right-wing extremists in chat groups.
Raids in offices and private homes
A total of 34 police stations and private apartments were searched by 14 officials, said State Interior Minister Herbert Reul in Düsseldorf. Several mobile phones were confiscated. However, apparently only one cell phone has been evaluated so far, so there could be other suspects.
In all five chat groups, he said, there should have been “the worst and most disgusting agitation.” More than 100 image files were sent, including photographs of Adolf Hitler and swastikas, Reich war flags, and a fictional depiction of a refugee in the gas chamber of a concentration camp.
29 officials affected
A total of 29 police officers are said to have been involved, Reul said. They were all suspended that morning and a disciplinary process was started against all of them. 14 officers will be removed from duty. Among other things, he is being investigated for sedition.
The Essen police headquarters is particularly affected. There will be a special inspection there. Furthermore, Reul wants to appoint a special representative for right-wing extremist tendencies in the North Rhine-Westphalia police.
“No more individual cases”
The minister spoke of “an embarrassment to the police.” Reul went on to say: “Right-wing extremists and neo-Nazis have nothing to do with our police, absolutely nothing.” He had long expected such incidents to be isolated cases. “But today I can no longer talk about individual cases.”
