Thousands of police officers have raided homes across Germany to arrest 25 people for their alleged involvement in a far-right plot to overthrow their country's government.
Prosecutors say the group was inspired by the deep-state conspiracy theories of Germany's Reichsbürger (aka Reich Citizens) and QAnon, whose advocates were among those arrested after the storming of the US Capitol in January 2021.
The raids of 130 homes across 11 states on Wednesday have been described by Justice Minister Marco Buschmann as an "anti-terrorism operation".
Here's what we know about the so-called Reich Citizens movement and its plans.
The coup plot
Prosecutors say members and supporters of the movement had planned a violent overthrow of the government to install a new leader, German Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss of Greiz, who they believe had sought backing from Russia.
Some members had made "concrete preparations" to storm Germany's federal parliament with a small armed group, according to prosecutors.
They said the details of the plan still needed to be investigated to determine whether any of the suspects could be charged with treason.
"Further investigations will give a clear picture of how far the coup plans had progressed," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in a tweet.
Prosecutors also said the group had emulated the structure of the government, creating a "council" that had regularly met since November 2021 as an administration-in-waiting, with different departments, such as foreign affairs and health.
The Kremlin denied any Russian involvement in the alleged plot.
How did the police find out?
An investigation into another Reich Citizens' plot — that had planned to kidnap German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach — uncovered information that led to Wednesday's raids, Germany's public broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported.
Ms Faeser said the case revealed the threat posed by the Reich Citizens movement.
"The investigations provide a glimpse into the abyss of a terrorist threat from the Reichsbürger scene," she said in a statement.
"We know how to defend ourselves with all our might against the enemies of democracy."
Who is this group?
Reich Citizens is comprised of about 21,000 people, with around 5 per cent of them considered far-right extremists, according to Germany's domestic intelligence service Verfassungsschutz.
They came under observation in 2016 after one of its members shot dead a policeman during a raid at his home.
About 2,100 Reich Citizens are prepared to use violence to reach their goals, according to the 2021 annual report by Verfassungsschutz.
The movement mainly operates in small groups and virtual networks but also comprises individuals without attachment to any structures.
Members don't recognise modern-day Germany as a legitimate state.
Some of them are devoted to the German empire under monarchy, while some are adherents of Nazi ideas and others still say Germany is still under military occupation.
Who is the ring leader?
Prince Heinrich XIII is suspected of hoping to become Germany's new leader in the coup.
Prosecutors, however, declined to comment on how, if at all, he was involved in the Reich Citizens movement.
The 71-year-old — who is among those arrested — is one of the last descendants of a dynasty that once ruled over wide tracts of eastern Germany.
A real estate developer, the prince has, for years, publicly advocated the theory that life was better worldwide under monarchy.
Prosecutors identified a second leader behind the coup as Ruediger v P, reported by Der Spiegel magazine to be a 69-year-old former paratrooper.
