Germany sees protests, far-right raid and continuing rail delays
Germany saw demonstrations against a possible return to military service and higher defence spending, while police conducted a major operation against a suspected far-right music network. Separately, Deutsche Bahn reported that only 52.4 per cent of long-distance trains arrived on time in September.
Germany faced a series of political and public-order developments on Friday, including protests over military service, raids targeting a suspected far-right music network and continued delays on the national rail system. Around 2,000 people gathered near Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate for a demonstration and concert opposing a possible return to military service and planned increases in defence spending. Organisers urged the government to direct additional funds towards social needs.
Germany has not reintroduced military or civilian service. However, the Bundeswehr has begun sending questionnaires to 18-year-olds to assess their interest in service, with boys required to respond and girls invited to do so. In Bremen, police estimated that about 700 far-left antifa demonstrators marched under the slogan “No peace with the state”.
Police reported isolated fireworks and other pyrotechnics but no injuries or clashes by early evening. German investigators also seized about 33,000 recordings, €2m in assets and roughly 130 digital devices in raids against a suspected far-right music operation. Around 400 officers searched properties in several German states and in Estonia, Italy and Poland.
Four principal suspects, aged between 43 and 55, are suspected of forming a criminal organisation to produce and sell music promoting Nazi, antisemitic, racist and misanthropic ideology. No arrests were made, and authorities said the searches were intended to gather evidence. Meanwhile, Deutsche Bahn said 52.4 per cent of its long-distance trains arrived on time in September, down from 54.2 per cent in August.
The company blamed construction work and infrastructure failures, including on the Berlin-Hannover route.
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