GERMAN police carried out raids today against far-right anti-vaxxers who threatened to kill state officials over coronavirus restrictions by using crossbows and other piercing weapons.  

Five properties in Saxony state’s capital Dresden and one in the nearby town of Heidenau were searched by the special Soko Rex anti-extremist unit in an investigation of suspected preparations for serious acts of violence, police said.

The probe came after a report from public broadcaster ZDF that a group on the messenger service Telegram discussed plans to kill Saxony’s state governor Michael Kretschmer and other members of the state government.

Saxony has seen frequent protests against coronavirus policies and has Germany’s lowest vaccination rate.

According to the ZDF report, the group’s 103 members shared a rejection of vaccinations and the current coronavirus policy.

It featured audio messages in which people urged opposing policy measures “with armed force if necessary,” directed against Christian Democrats member Mr Kretschmer and others.

Saxony criminal police force spokesman Tom Bernhardt said that six members of the Telegram group are under investigation — five men and one woman, aged 32 to 64.

He said that police found “crossbows, parts of weapons and weapons.

“Whether these are capable of firing or are so-called live weapons at all, we will see in the course of the investigation.”

Mr Kretschmer said that threats against officials, scientists and journalists “are unacceptable, will not be tolerated and will be pursued with all our strength.”

“People in public office should have no fear of speaking their mind and doing their job,” he said.

Last year, Mr Kretschmer warned of Covid-19 “hysteria,” but later apologised and has since backed strict measures.

Coronavirus restrictions and the prospect of a likely vaccine mandate for all have fuelled recent protests in Germany.

Security agencies have warned that parts of the Querdenken movement, a loose collection of groups opposed to the pandemic restrictions, are becoming increasingly radicalised.

At least a dozen threatening letters containing pieces of meat have also been sent to politicians, media outlets and public institutions, reports say.

The threats warned of “bloody resistance” against mandatory vaccinations.

New Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a speech to Parliament today that “we won’t put up with a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists trying to impose its will on the whole of our society.”