Number of Germany's right-wing "Reichsbuerger" members rises sharply

According to the Focus, a German-language news magazine, the biggest scene is in Bavaria, where the authorities reported about 3,500 "Reich citizens", followed by Baden-Wurttemberg with 2,500 and North Rhine-Westphalia with 2,200.

The Reichsbuerger movement, commencing from 1980s, has existed in Germany and beyond for decades. However, the violent and extreme propensity of the members raised security concerns.

The Focus report said more than 1,000 Reichsbuerger have a licence to bear arms, giving rise to concerns that the group possesses a large number of legal and illegal weapons.