jpnn.com, JERMAN - Anti-vaccine activists in Saxony, Germany, were trying to kill the state's leader, stated the German police, Wednesday (15/12).
The revelation added to fears of escalating violent protests against local government plans to make vaccinations mandatory.
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Saxony is one of the states in Germany that has the highest rate of Covid-19 infection, while its vaccination rate is among the lowest.
The plot to kill Michael Kretschmer, the state's leader, was discussed in a chat group on Telegram, police said.
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Members of the Dresden Offlinevernetzung group or the Dresden offline network had indicated via Telegram messages they might have firearms and bows, Saxony police said on Twitter.
After searching a number of places in Dresden, police said the initial suspicion was confirmed.
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Protests against new restrictions on those who are not vaccinated and plans to make vaccination mandatory for some groups in Germany have sparked more violence.
Many attacks were directed at doctors, politicians, and journalists.
Vaccination will be mandatory from March 16 for people working in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health facilities.
German broadcaster ARD reported that more than a dozen politicians, mass media, and public institutions had received letters threatening bloody resistance to the law.
The letters were also accompanied by packages containing pieces of meat.
In September, a vaccination center in Saxony was targeted by arson.
Last month, a group of people gathered outside the residence of the Saxony interior minister carrying torches, which were seen implicitly as threats of violence.
A Telegram group against vaccination opponents in Dresden has come to the attention of the authorities following an investigative report by ZDF journalists last week.
The report said members of the group had discussed the killing of Saxony government officials. (antara/reuters/mcr20/jpnn)
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