Criminal police are searching the AZ Aachen again

When the last people left the AZ in the morning hours of September 7th and the measures were completed, the AZ was locked and access was denied. At around 5 p.m., criminal police officers gathered in front of the AZ. Although the board was available throughout the entire time, the door was broken down again and our premises were searched by the criminal police without involving him. 

We asked the police several times to show us a search warrant, to give us a reason for the search and to put us in touch with operations management. These demands were refused or put off. We were not informed of the official reason for the search until 6:30 p.m., more than an hour after the criminal police entered the Autonomous Center. The renewed violent intrusion was legitimized by the accusation made the day before during the demonstration. 

Our right to have our board of directors and another witness accompany the search was denied to us, even after multiple attempts to communicate. Also independent witnesses from the public order office, who must be present during such searches if no others
Authorized persons were never on site at any time. We objected to the measures several times, including through our lawyer, who accompanied us by telephone and with whom the police refused to cooperate.

At around 9 p.m. the police ended the operation and we were able to get an idea of ​​the condition of our premises. The material damage caused cannot yet be quantified, but is significant. A log of the confiscated items was not given to our board of directors, who were able to attend the event late.

While the AfD was elected the strongest force in Saxony-Anhalt and alternative youth centers across Germany are being attacked by neo-Nazis, the state is paralyzing anti-fascist structures and subjecting them to massive repression. 
What we have experienced here is simply a demonstration of power. Experience shows that such misconduct usually has no consequences for the police and that those affected by this arbitrary behavior are left with the damage (physical, emotional or financial). The end of the operation is not the end of the repression. The full extent will remain to be seen in the future.

In times of escalating authoritarianism, when the state resorts to anti-democratic means to criminalize anti-fascism and left-wing organization, we must take a decisive stand against it. Organizing ourselves politically, moving freely, speaking out against injustice, taking care of each other instead of putting each other down, respecting each other even when we disagree - these are the principles of our spaces that we stand for.

We are grateful for everyone who has shown solidarity with us in the last few days and who has spoken out against arbitrariness and repression. We draw strength and motivation from this to continue to stand together, to defend ourselves, to fight.

We carry on. Not a step back.
AZ stays!

Aachen Autonomous Center

9/8/2026

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