German federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday that police raided the homes of 36 suspected members of two far-right youth groups, 'Deutsche Jugend Voran (DJV)' and 'Jung und Stark (JS)', accused of forming a criminal organization. Over 600 officers searched approximately 50 locations across 12 federal states.

The suspects are predominantly young people, some with prior records of violence. Prosecutors alleged that some attacked left-wing activists or individuals they believed to be pedophiles, beating them severely. No arrests have been made yet.

DJV and JS emerged in mid-2024 and have since been monitored by security authorities. Both groups are considered violence-prone, with several hundred members each. DJV is primarily based in Berlin and Brandenburg.

Separately, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government marks its first year in office. DW chief political editor Michaela Küfner noted that Merz 'often pays a high political price for his verbal clumsiness' and questioned whether his 'unprecedented talent for scoring political own goals' can translate into effective governance.

The coalition government is reportedly struggling with internal disputes, with partners blaming each other or US President Donald Trump for problems. Merz's direct criticism of Trump has allegedly backfired, raising doubts about his leadership.

Source: www.dw.com