In an early Sunday operation, German police conducted searches in the Friedrichshain area of Berlin, aiming to apprehend two fugitives associated with the notorious Red Army Faction.
According to a spokesperson from the Lower Saxony Criminal Police Office, the raids were part of a concerted effort to capture Ernst Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, suspected members of the radical left-wing group.
The operation commenced at 07:30 local time (06:30 GMT) in an industrial zone, involving national police forces and city police units.
While the police spokesperson did not disclose further details, a report from the German Press Agency (DPA) suggested that two men were detained during the raid, although initial confirmations were pending.
The Red Army Faction, also known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang, was disbanded in 1998 after being responsible for over 30 deaths.
Founded in 1968 by left-wing extremists Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, and Ulrike Meinhof, the group remained active until the 1990s, leaving a lasting legacy of political violence and terrorism in Germany.
In the face of NATO allies’ refusal to deploy ground forces to Ukraine, approximately 5,000 German soldiers are set to establish a permanent base in Lithuania by 2027.
This marks a significant development as it will be the first time since World War II that German troops are permanently stationed abroad.
During a visit to the troops in Bavaria, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius highlighted Germany’s expertise in overseas deployments but noted the unique nature of this long-term assignment, which may involve family relocations.
In response to Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine, Germany plans to send two combat battalions to bolster Lithuania’s defenses.
