Daniel Halemba, a 22-year-old member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has been taken into custody over claims related to the display of Nazi symbols. Reports suggest that the slogan “Sieg Heil” was frequently heard emanating from the Teutonia Prag student fraternity’s headquarters, with which Halemba is associated.
Having recently won a seat in the Bavarian parliament, Halemba was arrested mere hours before he would have obtained immunity as an MP.
A police operation carried out last month at the fraternity’s base in Würzburg was prompted by local residents’ complaints about hearing the banned Nazi chant. The raid led to the discovery and confiscation of prohibited Nazi-related materials.
The arrest warrant was executed near Stuttgart, with authorities apprehending Halemba, who they believe had been evading capture since 26th October. He now faces investigations for alleged sedition, possession of outlawed symbols, and potential attempts to tamper with witness testimonies from his fraternity members.
In a video shared on social media prior to his arrest, Halemba claimed he was the target of an “unlawful arrest warrant”. His attorney, Dubravko Mandic, has since denied all charges against Halemba.
AfD’s leader in the Bavarian parliament, Katrin Ebner-Steiner, has criticized the arrest as being influenced by political agendas. The AfD party, known for its stringent stance on immigration, has seen significant electoral success recently. They achieved third place in the Bavarian elections and are becoming a prominent force in German politics.
