Arrest of AfD politician Halemba, wanted on an arrest warrant

They are being investigated on charges of incitement to hatred and using symbols of anti-constitutional organizations. “The allegations have been proven to us,” the Public Prosecutor’s Office explained.

AfD politician Daniel Halemba, who was wanted on an arrest warrant in Germany and recently elected to the Bavarian state parliament, has been arrested. A spokesman for the Würzburg Public Prosecutor’s Office told the German News Agency on Monday. The 22-year-old was arrested in the Stuttgart area around 8 a.m. Halemba is being investigated on charges of incitement to hatred and using symbols of anti-constitutional organizations.

Initial suspicions were confirmed after evaluating the evidence. Halemba is scheduled to appear before a judge in Würzburg on Monday, or Tuesday at the latest, who can order pretrial detention.

The Alternative for Germany parliamentary group itself announced on Friday that there was an arrest warrant for one of its representatives. The prosecutor then confirmed that it was Halemba. Halemba, who lives in Würzburg, was not found at the weekend.

Lawyer: There is nothing wrong with these accusations

Halemba could not be reached for comment since the arrest warrant was issued. Lawyer Dubravko Mandek, who represents Halemba according to the Würzburg Public Prosecutor’s Office, rejected the allegations in a statement on Saturday evening: “According to a preliminary assessment, there is no truth to all the allegations against the members of Teutonic Prague.”

According to his own information, 22-year-old Halemba has been a member of the “Teutonic Brotherhood of Prague in Würzburg” since 2021, which was raided in September. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, there was suspicion that items bearing symbols of the National Socialist Party, as well as posters and graffiti of a racist nature, might be present in the fraternity house. Almost all of the seized items have now been evaluated, the agency’s spokesman said on Monday. “These allegations have been proven to us.” Evaluation of data holders is ongoing.

Investigations against five members of the Student Union

In addition to Halemba, the Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating four other members of the Würzburg Students’ Association, including on charges of incitement to hatred and using symbols of anti-constitutional organizations. The association has not yet commented on these allegations when asked by the German News Agency. Halemba had previously rejected all the accusations against him as false.

Members of Parliament generally enjoy immunity. However, this will only take effect at the founding meeting on Monday at 3pm. At 22 years old, Halemba is the youngest politician to be elected to the Bavarian state parliament. (APA/DPA)