Authorities are investigating two AfD state parliament candidates in connection with the illegal continuation of the far-right group ‘Artgemeinschaft,’ banned since 2023 for its extremist views.

Prosecutors in Halle are probing allegations that the banned extremist organization ‘Artgemeinschaft – Germanic Faith Community’ may still be active. As part of the investigation, searches were conducted at 15 locations across five federal states, including Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia. Among the suspects are two politicians from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Simon Lansmann and Sebastian Koch, both running in the upcoming September 6 state elections in Saxony-Anhalt. Both candidates have denied involvement and distanced themselves from the group.

The investigation stems from a summer solstice event reportedly linked to the ‘Artgemeinschaft’ that took place in June 2026 at Lansmann’s property in Gardelegen. Around 40 adults and 15 children attended the gathering, which was under police surveillance due to suspicions about its nature. Although authorities monitored traffic to and from the event, they lacked sufficient grounds for a search warrant at the time. The banned organization, known for its racist and antisemitic beliefs, has been identified by German intelligence services as a significant hub for neo-Nazi activities.

Searches conducted last week uncovered various documents, data carriers, and weapons. While prosecutors have not disclosed specific findings, there are indications that the materials could strengthen the case against the suspects. Although the weapons discovered appeared to comply with legal requirements, authorities are reviewing whether the individuals involved should lose their firearm permits. The ongoing investigation also includes potential violations of Germany’s weapons laws as officials work to determine whether the group’s operations were unlawfully continued.