Hamburg police officers raided the homes of nine colleagues in the early hours of Tuesday morning as part of an investigation into allegations of racist and anti-Semitic messages exchanged in private chat groups.
The crackdown, carried out under the direction of Hamburg’s disciplinary and complaint management department (BMDA), targeted a total of 15 current and former civil servants suspected of sharing extremist content.
The BMDA is overseen directly by the Social Democrat (SPD) Interior Minister Andy Grote.
Investigators seized electronic devices, including mobile phones and laptops, which are now being analyzed for further evidence. The accused officers, aged between 44 and 61, are under disciplinary investigation, with suspensions already imposed on those actively serving.
The raids, which began at 6 a.m., involved searching the apartments and service rooms of six active-duty officers and three retired officers. The probe initially stemmed from separate investigations into two officers — one over a suspected weapons law violation and another police protection officer accused of making offensive remarks.
Analysis of their private online chats reportedly uncovered anti-foreigner messages, as well as references to violence and anti-Semitic content.
Hamburg Police President Falk Schnabel barred all officers under investigation from duty and confiscated their service weapons. They have also been prohibited from entering police stations without valid authorization.
No further details regarding the ongoing investigation have been released.
