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Germany Discloses Over 4,000 Legal Firearms Linked to Extremist Groups

The ministry cites risks to investigations as the reason for withholding state-level figures.

Overview

  • As of December 31, 2024, the National Weapons Register listed 2,996 permit‑required firearms to right‑wing extremists, 932 to Reichsbürger and Selbstverwalter, and 124 to individuals flagged for delegitimizing the state.
  • At that date, 1,120 right‑wing extremists, 357 Reichsbürger and Selbstverwalter, and 37 delegitimizers held weapons permits.
  • In 2023, authorities revoked or received voluntary returns of 157 permits from right‑wing extremists, 191 from Reichsbürger and Selbstverwalter, and 12 from the delegitimization spectrum.
  • The Interior Ministry refused a federal‑state breakdown, warning it could enable identification of individuals and compromise ongoing or future investigations.
  • The government reported no newer registry data and no national statistics on explosives permits, while the Greens called for faster and more consistent disarmament of extremists.