Plot to assassinate Germany's Saxony state premier foiled

BERLIN

German police said on Wednesday that they uncovered a conspiracy to assassinate the premier of the country's eastern state of Saxony.

The suspects – known to be anti-vaccination activists – planned to assassinate Michael Kretschmer, the premier of Saxony from the center-right Christian Democratic Union of Germany party, as well as other Cabinet members, according to a statement released by the Saxony Police and the Dresden Prosecutor's Office.

Six suspects, aged 32 to 64, including a woman, created a discussion group on instant messaging application Telegram and plotted a serious act of violence that would imperil the state, it added.

Saxony has one of Germany’s highest levels of COVID-19 infection and the lowest vaccination rate.

The statement said searches were conducted in homes and other areas throughout Dresden city shortly after the plot was detected.

Weapons and other evidence were confiscated during these searches, the police said, and added that the investigation into the group continued.

The searches were successful, Saxony state Interior Minister Roland Woller said. "This is a signal that the rule of law is working," he added.

According to German media reports, one person has so far been detained.

The plot to assassinate Kretschmer was first uncovered by ZDF, the country's public broadcaster.

*Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev from Ankara