Overview
- The public prosecutor in Halle said Friday it has widened its investigation of AfD state lawmaker Sebastian Koch to include suspected violations of Germany’s weapons law after items were found during a police search.
- Police discovered two air rifles and a blank-firing pistol stored in a locked compartment during the late‑August raid, according to regional reporting that prompted the new inquiry.
- Koch’s lawyer said the items were handed over to officers on request and rejected any criminal wrongdoing by his client.
- The August searches targeted suspected continuations of the 2023‑banned right‑wing group Artgemeinschaft and investigators are still forensically examining seized documents and data drives.
- A recent decision by the Saxony‑Anhalt higher administrative court that allows revoking weapons permits for AfD members gives authorities a clear legal tool to pursue license checks, and the next steps to watch are forensic results and any move to suspend or withdraw permits.