German policemen suspended over far-right chat groups
![German Policemen Suspended Over Far Right Chat Groups](https://i0.wp.com/twistarticle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/german-policemen-suspended-over-far-right-chat-groups.jpg?fit=400%2C267&ssl=1)
Berlin, Sep 17 (IANS) Several German policemen, suspected to have been involved in at least five far-right online chat groups, were suspended, a Minister said.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Herbert Reul, minister of the interior of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), said that almost 30 officers were accused of “sending and receiving right-wing extremist propaganda in at least five private WhatsApp chat groups, which were apparently used exclusively or predominantly by police officers”, reports Xinhua news agency.
Reul called the development a “disgrace for the NRW police”.
One of the chat groups is believed to have been established in 2013.
Photos of Adolf Hitler and a “fictional description” of a refugee in a gas chamber were also shared in the chat groups, the Minister said, adding the suspensions took place on Wednesday.
A special internal commission has been set up to investigate the case and numerous searches across 34 police stations and residences in NRW were carried out, Reul said.
–IANS
ksk/