Four Arrested in Germany on Charges of Conspiracy to Attack Muslims

German police have arrested four citizens of the country on charges of forming an extremist right-wing group aimed at attacking mosques and the homes of foreign refugees. Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday, May 5, that the detainees include three men and one woman who were arrested during police operations in several German states. According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Germany, the detainees formed a group called 'Traditional Society' with the goal of attacking the homes of refugees, mosques, and prominent figures in the Muslim community in Germany. The members of this group are 'Andreas H.', 56, 'Markus W.', 39, 'Denis Wansa G.', 22, and 'Olaf O.', 47, who have been arrested on charges of terrorism and possession of explosives. In a statement, the Federal Prosecutor's Office identified 'Andreas H.' and 'Markus W.' as the president and vice president of the group, respectively. Four years ago, members of a small right-wing group called 'National Socialist Underground' murdered nine migrants and a police officer, a group that took its name from Hitler's party. However, the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Germany has emphasized that it is still uncertain whether the 'Traditional Society' group has carried out any operations or was only considering plans. Nevertheless, Reuters reported, citing ministers from the North Rhine-Westphalia state government, that German security forces have been monitoring 'Olaf O.' since November of last year. The state's interior minister also described the police action in arresting 'Olaf O.' and other members of the 'Traditional Society' group as a 'timely and decisive action against extremist right-wing thugs.' Last year, Germany also witnessed the emergence of an anti-Islam group called Pegida, which held large demonstrations, especially in Dresden, although Pegida's demonstrations were non-violent. In this context, the presence of German leaders at Muslim gatherings to promote tolerance is noteworthy, as a poll indicates that one-third of Germans support demonstrations against 'Islamization.' The confrontation between supporters and opponents of the anti-Islam movement in Germany continues, and the alert status regarding the risks of terrorism in Europe remains.