Twenty-five members of a far-right group are in custody for plotting to overthrow the German government after sweeping nationwide raids this morning.
Officers performed searches across 11 of Germany's 16 states against members of the so-called Reich Citizens movement, DPA reported, citing federal prosecutors.
Some members of the organisation reject Germany's postwar constitution and have called for the overthrow of the government in Berlin.
A 71-year-old man, who goes by the nickname Heinrich XIII, is thought to be central to the mob's plan. Cops said they arrested two ringleaders during the operation, BBC reports.
Weekly Der Spiegel reported that locations searched include the barracks of Germany's special forces unit KSK in the southwestern town of Calw.
The unit has in the past been scrutinized over alleged far-right involvement by some soldiers.
Raids took place in much of the country and two people were arrested in Austria and Italy, Germany's DPA news agency reported. Those detained were due to be questioned later in the day.
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann tweeted that a major anti-terror operation was taking place and a suspected "armed attack on constitutional bodies was planned".
The federal prosecutor said the group had been plotting a violent coup since November 2021.
Former members of the military were also a significant part of the coup plot, reports said. They included ex-elite soldiers from special units.
The plotters had already established plans to rule Germany, the federal prosecutor's office said. Members understood they could only realise their goals by "military means and violence against state representatives" and that included carrying out killings.
Public broadcaster ZDF reported that a former far-right member of the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, was also part of the plot and was lined up to be installed as the group's justice minister, with Prince Heinrich as leader.
Police have been waiting to strike the group, which has been linked to a number of violent attacks and the spreading of racist conspiracy theories.
They are also hostile to the modern German state and refuse to recognise it, and want to install a new government based on Germany in 1871.
Germany's internal intelligence agency believes there are arond 16,500 members of the group across the country - many of whom are ready to commit "serious acts of violence".
Deutsche Welle previously reported that the majority of them are over 50 years old and come from disadvantaged communities.
A district court judge in Saxony-Anhalt has described them as "conspiracy theorists" and "malcontents," DW adds.
Several high-profile acts of extreme violence have shocked Germany and earned them the attention of law enforcement agencies.
The group has an affinity for stockpiling ammunition and firearms - which have been discovered during previous raids.
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