THE German government has banned the Reich Citizen group, a far-right extremist organisation calling itself the “Kingdom of Germany,” and arrested four of its leaders.

Early today, about 800 police officers carried out co-ordinated raids across several federal states, searching properties belonging to the group and the homes of its key figures

“The members of this association have created a ‘counter-state’ in our country and built up economic criminal structures,” Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said.

He said that the group’s activities were underpinned by anti-semitic conspiracy theories.

“We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order,” Mr Dobrindt said.

The so-called Reich Citizen movement refuses to recognise Germany as a state.

Many of them claim that the historical German Reich still exists and reject the authority of democratic institutions, such as parliament, courts and the legal system.

They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines.

The Kingdom of Germany was proclaimed in 2012 by its leader, Peter Fitzek — one of those arrested — in the eastern town of Wittenberg.

The group claims to have about 6,000 followers, though the Interior Ministry estimates the actual number to be closer to 1,000.

It presents itself as a “counter-state” that has supposedly seceded from the federal government.

The group’s online platforms will be shut down, and its assets confiscated to prevent any further use of funds for extremist purposes.

It is not the first time German authorities have targeted the Reich Citizen movement.

The action comes amid increasing far-right activity in Germany and Europe, with the most recent elections seeing the Alternative for Germany double its vote share in parliament.