Asger Risom
Seventeen suspects linked to a militant diaspora group face investigation after violent attacks at pro-regime events.
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German prosecutors have revealed an alleged plot by a domestic terror group to overthrow the government of Eritrea, following nationwide raids targeting 17 suspected members of a militant network known as the N’Hamedu Brigade.
As reported by Digi24, the group has been active in Germany since at least 2022 and is believed to have international ties. Authorities say the German-based cell has used violence against organizers of Eritrean government-aligned events in Europe, with several police officers seriously injured in clashes during festivals and seminars in Giessen, Stuttgart, and other cities over the past two years.
A Network With Violent Intentions
The group reportedly considers violence against German institutions and law enforcement to be legitimate, according to a statement by federal prosecutors in Karlsruhe. During Wednesday morning’s operation, police conducted searches at 19 properties across six German states, including Hesse, Bavaria, and North Rhine-Westphalia. A parallel investigation also took place in Denmark.
While no arrests have yet been announced, authorities say the suspects held senior roles within the N’Hamedu network and may have been planning further disruptions or politically motivated attacks.
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A Transnational Security Challenge
The case underscores the increasingly transnational nature of extremist threats in Europe, where diaspora tensions can spill over into local violence. While Germany has long hosted Eritrean communities, pro- and anti-regime factions have increasingly clashed, particularly during cultural events tied to the Eritrean state.
Eritrea, often described as one of the world’s most repressive regimes, has no functioning democratic institutions and maintains mandatory military conscription. The N’Hamedu Brigade is believed to oppose President Isaias Afwerki’s decades-long rule.
As Europe grapples with rising hybrid threats—from foreign interference to politically motivated violence within diaspora groups—German authorities are placing greater emphasis on surveillance and cross-border cooperation to prevent local instability with international roots.
