Police dismantle far-left extremist network in Saxony – five arrested
Raid against the "Zwickau Collective" across four federal states. The public prosecutor's office is investigating a criminal association suspected of carrying out robberies over several years.
Searches across four federal states
According to reports from Die Zeit Kriminalität, police conducted a major raid against suspected far-left violent offenders on the morning of 3 November. The Soko LinX of the Saxony State Criminal Police searched approximately 20 flats in Zwickau district, Thuringia, Leipzig, Bremen, Hamburg and Dresden. Five men were arrested, with twelve further persons under suspicion.
The Dresden public prosecutor's office is investigating on suspicion of forming a criminal association. According to chief public prosecutor Jürgen Schmidt, a 20-year-old from Leipzig attacked a police officer during the searches and was provisionally arrested. Four further suspects aged 22, 22, 33 and 36 are in custody awaiting trial.
Allegations against the group
Members of the suspected "Zwickau Collective" are alleged to have committed attacks against political opponents in varying compositions over several years – including grievous bodily harm, robbery and serious breach of the peace. During one robbery, the Collective allegedly used batons and pepper spray, according to investigators. The Marxist-Leninist group uses hammer and sickle and the red Soviet star as recognition symbols; their greeting is "Rot Front" with a clenched fist.
The group's stated aim is to take action against right-wing extremists and lay the groundwork for a communist party. The intelligence service suspects that the Collective could seek to replace the free democratic basic order through violence.
Connection to international cases
The Collective publicly supports activist Maja T. (26), who describes herself as "non-binary". She was sentenced to seven years in prison in Hungary following a brutal assault. The Collective refers to her as "Comrade" and calls for her release via Instagram. The 2025 constitutional protection report notes that the group has made no public appearances recently, possibly as a result of a raid in February 2025.
Most of the suspects live or originate from Zwickau, which is why the group bears this name.
Source: Die Zeit Kriminalität