Overview

• On January 29, 25-year-old Neo-Nazi Angelos L. is accused of stealing and damaging commemorative wreaths at the Hannover-Ahlem Holocaust memorial.
• A February residence search uncovered a letter signed by AfD state chairman Ansgar Schledde confirming Angelos’s membership since early January.
• After initially denying any connection, the AfD revoked his membership when confronted with the internal document.
• Through its lawyer, the AfD sought a cease-and-desist order to bar the Hannover police from disclosing his party ties, but the department declined to comply.
• The incident has intensified scrutiny of the AfD, which is monitored as a right-wing extremist group by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.