German police have detained two people after a series of raids against far-right suspects accused of plotting attacks on refugees, Jews and police officers. Another suspect was believed to have offered assistance to the group, including by acquiring weapons. According to the domestic intelligence service, the Reichsb?rger movement has about 10,000 members. ?The Reichsb?rger group ? continues to win new followers,? the domestic security chief, Hans-Georg Maa?en, told the DPA, voicing concern about the ?increased aggressiveness? of its followers. Most Reichsb?rger members believe in the continued existence of the German empire (Reich) and many refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions and fines owed to the state.

Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA The crowd swelled to several hundred as the day wore on, and included two members of congress who spent part of the day trying to win the release of about a dozen people they said had been detained.