France: Arsenal found in possession of four members of a neo-Nazi formation

An “impressive” number of weapons, including ammunition, a ton of ammunition… A real arsenal was found in Alsace, owned by four members of a neo-Nazi formation.

The four suspects were taken into custody following a police operation on Tuesday. Mulhouse Attorney Edvis Roux-Morizzo announced today that they are being prosecuted for arms trafficking and could face up to 10 years in prison.

Two of them were remanded in custody while the other two were released on parole. The prosecutor, who had requested the pre-trial detention of all, said that she would appeal the decision regarding the two who were released.

A fifth suspect was released without charge.

The four men were arrested at their homes in different communities in Alsace during an operation involving about 200 police officers. Upper Rhine police Colonel Alexandre Zono explained that precautionary measures had to be taken because the suspects were “heavily armed” and “trained” in the use of weapons.

A total of 18 legal and 23 illegal weapons and 167 cartridges were found, 72 of which were intended for Kalashnikovs. The number of bullets was so large that “we measure them by weight,” added Lt. Col. Jan Vanson, deputy commander of the Strasbourg investigation department. “At least 120,000 bullets of all calibers” were found, weighing more than a tonne, he explained.

The suspects are aged 45-53 and belonged to a neo-Nazi group, according to anti-Semitic books and Nazi objects found in their homes. Prosecutor Rou-Morizo ​​said police were mobilized because “there was a risk of seeing them take action” although there was no immediate indication that they were planning a specific operation.

“When we talk about assault rifles, a machine gun, 30 kilos of gunpowder, materials for making explosives (…) we think that something could happen at any time,” the prosecutor concluded.

Source: AMPE