GERMANY’S federal prosecutor’s office said today that criminal police have detained three more suspected far-right extremists who are linked to an alleged plot by the Reichsbuerger, or Reich Citizens, movement to topple the country’s government.

The three suspects, identified only as Johanna FJ, Hans-Joachim H and Steffen W in line with German privacy rules, were detained on Monday evening in the south-western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.

The defendants are suspected of membership of a terrorist organisation, the prosecutor’s office said.

In December, German police detained 25 people — including a self-styled prince, a retired paratrooper and a former judge — accused of plotting the violent overthrow of the government.

Followers of the Reich Citizens movement reject Germany’s post-war constitution and have called for the government’s dissolution.

Authorities say the three people who were arrested on Monday evening were linked in different ways to the suspects in the alleged coup attempt.

Johanna FJ is suspected of having been active in the association since May 2022, participating in several meetings with members of the leadership, during which the goals and organisation of the group were discussed. 

Hans-Joachim H is suspected of having been active for the group from the very beginning, providing it with financial contributions totaling more than €140,000 (£120,000). 

Steffen W is suspected of having joined the association no later than July 2022, and to have held a leading role in a so-called homeland security company, in which he assumed the function of a military officer. 

He allegedly participated in several co-ordination meetings. His task was to recruit personnel for his area of responsibility and to train them militarily, prosecutors said.

German security agencies have disrupted several plots in recent years by small groups linked to the Reich Citizens movement, accused of planning attacks on critical infrastructure, government officials and even the national parliament.