German police seize military-grade weapons in raids targeting organized crime group

BERLIN

German police seized a large cache of war weapons, including automatic rifles, anti-tank mines, and explosives, during raids in the western city of Remscheid, local media reported on Monday.

Public broadcaster WDR said the Europol-backed operation targeted an international arms trafficking network. German special forces raided multiple residential and commercial properties late Sunday into early Monday morning, arresting several suspects.

The weapons cache was found in a hidden room at an auto repair shop, according to the daily Bild. Police tracked a vehicle from the Polish border to Remscheid and detained the driver—the shop's owner—at the scene. Officers also seized USB sticks, SIM cards, and mobile phones from the shop.