Celebrity chef Frank Heppner is ‘suspect’ in German far-right coup plot, according to reports | World News

Local media reported that a famous chef was among those arrested for allegedly plotting a far-right terrorist group to overthrow the German government.

Frank Heppner, 62, the father of Real Madrid star David Alaba’s girlfriend, is believed to have been arrested in the Austrian ski resort of Kitzbuhel, where he has a restaurant.

The Reichsbur’s failed coupZebra move – also known as the Reich Citizens movement – led to the nation’s largest-ever campaign against right-wing extremism.

Raids took place in 11 of the country’s 16 states last week, with 3,000 armed policemen storming 100 properties across Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Lower Saxony and Thuringia, as well as in Kitzbuhel and the Italian city. Perugia.

The alleged conspirators wanted to install Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, a 71-year-old aristocrat, as head of the new government. He was among those arrested.

Prosecutors said the group planned to install him as Germany’s new leader.

According to the Austrian daily Die Presse, Heppner’s role, if the coup is deemed successful, would be to “take over the canteen of the new German Empire” and resupply their troops.

As an expert in Eurasian cuisine, Heppner has worked at 5-star hotels around the world.

His daughter, Shalimar Heppner, 28, has a son with Real Madrid’s Alaba, who is also the captain of the Austrian national team. Sky News has contacted him for comment.

According to German authorities, 23 suspected members and supporters of the group have been arrested.

Prosecutors said 22 German citizens and one Russian woman were detained during the raids. They said the extradition of two other people detained in Italy and Austria.

Further arrests are expected to follow.

According to Der Spiegel, among the items seized during the raids were a 9mm pistol, sword, knife, stun gun, combat helmet, night vision device and a law enforcement weapon of a police officer. assassins are among the suspects.

The left-wing daily Die Tageszeitung reported that investigators had found a “killer list” with 18 names and addresses on it of prominent German politicians and journalists whom the group may have targeted. next.

The Reichsburger movement brought together a number of far-right groups whose aim was to remove the current government and replace it with their own.

According to authorities, members of the Reichsburger group have been prepared to “take actions based on their ideology” since November 2021.

Following the raids, German Interior Minister Nancy Faese said the raids showed the country was “fighting against the enemies of democracy”.

The case once again caught the attention of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. A female judge – identified by prosecutors as Birgit MW – who is believed to have links to the party has also been detained during the raids.

Her intended post-coup role is understood to be justice minister.

Known by its German initials AfD, the party is increasingly under scrutiny by German security services due to its ties to extremists.