German police have raided around 50 homes and other locations across the country, targeting individuals suspected of involvement in far-right youth groups that have recently emerged. The suspects are believed to be part of two groups: 'Jung & Stark' (JS), or Young and Strong, and 'Deutsche Jugend Voran' (DJV), meaning Forwards German Youth.

Federal prosecutors said the raids targeted individuals suspected of organizing violence through social media and forming nationwide networks. No arrests were made in Wednesday's operations, which took place in 12 states, mainly in eastern and southern Germany, including Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony. More than 600 police officers were involved.

Prosecutors alleged that some of the accused attacked members of the left-wing scene or people they believed to be paedophiles. In each case, victims were beaten by several attackers and sustained significant injuries. During meetings, group members allegedly called for acts of violence against political opponents and alleged paedophiles.

Last year, one of the leaders of DJV was sentenced to more than three years in prison after a string of violent attacks against political opponents in Berlin. Julian M., 24, along with a group of 16 to 23-year-olds, was convicted of brutally beating several people who appeared to be wearing emblems connected to the political left.

There is deep concern in Germany about young people being drawn into far-right activity and violence targeting both left-wing figures and LGBT communities. Both JS and DJV operate openly, with a visible presence online on Telegram, Instagram and other social media platforms.

Jakob Guhl from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue said many of those who join JS and DJV are 'pretty young', in their teens or early 20s. The groups are 'explicitly militant' and 'not secretive', he added. Unlike more mainstream far-right movements like the AfD, JS and DJV focus on practicing martial arts, attending protests, and beating up people they see as enemies.

Source: www.bbc.com