A celebrity chef is among those arrested for an alleged plot by a far-right terror group to overthrow the German government, local media reported.
Frank Heppner, 62, father of Real Madrid star David Alaba’s girlfriend, was reportedly arrested in the Austrian ski resort of Kitzbühel, where he owns a restaurant.
The Reichsburger foiled coup movement – also known as the Reich Citizens’ Movement – led to the largest ever nationwide police operation against right-wing extremism.
The raids took place in 11 of the country’s 16 states last week, with 3,000 armed police storming up to 100 properties in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Lower Saxony and the Thuringia, as well as in Kitzbuhel and the Italian city of Perugia.
The plotters reportedly wanted to install Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, a 71-year-old aristocrat, at the head of a new government. He was among those arrested.
Prosecutors said the group planned to install him as Germany’s new leader.
Heppner’s role, had the alleged coup succeeded, would have been to “take over the canteens of the new German Reich” and supply his troops, according to the Austrian daily Die Presse.
A specialist in Euro-Asian cuisine, Heppner previously worked in five-star hotels around the world.
David Alaba and Shalimar Heppner at the FC Bayern Munich Christmas party in 2018
His daughter, Shalimar Heppner, 28, has a son with Real Madrid’s Alaba, who is also captain of the Austrian national team. Sky News has contacted him for comment.
Twenty-three suspected members and supporters of the group have been arrested according to German authorities.
Prosecutors said 22 German citizens and a Russian woman were arrested in the raids. They said the extradition of two other people detained in Italy and Austria.
More arrests are expected to follow.
According to Der Spiegel, among the items seized in the raids were 9mm pistols, swords, knives, stun guns, combat helmets, night vision equipment and the duty weapons of a policeman who was among the suspects.
The left-wing daily Die Tageszeitung reported that investigators had found a “hit list” containing 18 names and addresses of prominent German politicians and journalists whom the group may have intended to target.
The Reichsburger movement brings together several far-right groups whose goal is to get rid of the current government and replace it with their own.
According to the authorities, members of the Reichsburger group have been preparing to “carry out actions based on their ideology” since November 2021.
Following the raids, German Interior Minister Nancy Faese said the raids showed the country was “struggling against the enemies of democracy”.
The case has once again shone the spotlight on the far-right Alternative for Germany party. A female judge – identified by prosecutors as Birgit MW – believed to have party ties was also arrested during the searches.
His intended role after the coup would have been that of Minister of Justice.
Known by its German acronym AfD, the party has come under increasing scrutiny by German security services over its links to extremists.
