The Federal Police prevented eight activists of the new right-wing Identitarian Movement from leaving for Italy. On Thursday, the individuals were taken into custody at Munich Airport, taken to the Bavarian Federal Police station, and interrogated until late into the night. According to a letter handed to the activists and obtained by NIUS, "if German right-wing extremists were to leave the country," there is a "significant risk of damage to the reputation of the Federal Republic."
The reason for the travel efforts is the "Remigration Summit" taking place this weekend in Milan – an international conference focusing on repatriation policy. Speakers at the conference include Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek, Austrian Identitarian Martin Sellner, as well as right-wing politicians from Flanders such as Dries von Langenhoven and Portugal such as Afonso Gonçalves. Regular tickets for the event have been available for purchase in recent weeks.
Bavarian offshoots of the Identitarian Movement, the "Lederhosen Revolt," also planned to attend the conference. Among them were 22-year-old Adrian S., 25-year-old Annie H., and 26-year-old Moritz K., all of whom are politically right-wing.
According to those affected, the federal police confiscated devices and smartphones at the police station, searched their luggage, and took photographs of promotional materials (such as flyers or stickers) and personal belongings. Officers also confiscated T-shirts bearing the "Identitarian Movement" logo and a sweater featuring airplanes. The operation lasted several hours and extended into the night. According to information from NIUS, police officers also told the activists that the measure was intended to prevent the Identitarian travel group from participating in the event in Milan.
Travel ban to “prevent damage to the reputation of the Federal Republic of Germany abroad”