German federal prosecutors announced the arrest of five juveniles Wednesday for allegedly being part of a far-right terrorist cell that plotted violent attacks against migrants and political targets. The group, calling itself Letzte Verteidigungswelle (Last Defensive Wave), reportedly formed in April 2024 with the goal of bringing down the democratic order through orchestrated violence.

The suspects face charges including attempted murder and arson, tied to attacks on a cultural center in Brandenburg and an asylum facility in Thuringia.

Justice Minister: Extremist Violence “Knows No Age Limit”

Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig described the arrests as “particularly shocking,” highlighting that all individuals involved were minors at the time of the group’s founding. “This is an alarming sign and shows that right-wing extremist terrorism knows no age limit,” she said.

The arrests were part of coordinated raids across the states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hesse, Thuringia, and Saxony, involving searches of 13 properties.

Surge in Politically Motivated Crime Prompts Crackdown

The arrests come amid a nationwide push by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s new government to stem rising extremist threats. Last week, over 800 officers raided locations linked to the Reichsbürger movement, a neo-imperial group seeking to reestablish the German Empire.

Politically motivated crimes in Germany jumped 40% last year, the highest increase on record. More than half were linked to right-wing extremism, according to federal crime data.