Police investigations into the outlawed far‑right network Artgemeinschaft have named AfD candidate Sebastian Koch as a suspect, linking him to a combat‑training video that dates back to roughly 2016‑2017. The development was first reported by the German daily taz on 3 September 2026 and comes just weeks before the Saxony‑Anhalt Landtag election, where the briefing for this story notes that Koch is the only AfD candidate on the party list without a parliamentary seat and pollsters rate him as a likely winner.

Video evidence from a decade ago

The video, described by taz as "about ten years old" and originating from the now‑defunct group “Rechtes Plenum”, shows roughly 30 persons – all wearing black masks and equipped with wooden sticks – practising how to break police chain‑links in a quarry near Chemnitz. The footage includes a man whose face is visible enough for investigators to identify him as Sebastian Koch. In one scene, a shirt reads “I love NS”, underscoring the extremist symbolism. The video is set to a track of “National Socialist Hardcore”, further confirming its neo‑Nazi context.

"Ein Video zeigt den AfD‑Kandidaten Sebastian Koch augenscheinlich beim Kampftraining mit Neonazis. Untergehakt, mit Strumpfmasken und Stöcken ausgerüstet üben rund 30 Personen in einem Steinbruch nahe Chemnitz offenbar, wie man bei Demonstrationen Polizeiketten durchbricht." – taz

The visual record does not provide a precise date, but the packet places its creation in the period circa 2016‑2017. No other media outlet has offered a conflicting description of the footage, and the packet lists the video as a central piece of evidence for the police’s suspicion.

Police operation against a revived Artgemeinschaft network

According to the same taz article, the Staatsanwaltschaft Halle (Saale) ordered searches of properties belonging to 15 individuals in early September 2026. The operation targets people alleged to be continuing the activities of Artgemeinschaft, a group that was banned in 2023 for its racist and antisemitic ideology. The article states that the police searches were carried out "im Auftrag der Staatsanwaltschaft Halle (Saale)" and that the suspects are believed to be maintaining the extremist network despite the ban.

"Koch war allerdings schon vergangene Woche bundesweit in den Nachrichten. Im Auftrag der Staatsanwaltschaft Halle (Saale) durchsuchte die Polizei Immobilien von 15 Personen. Sie sollen die 2023 verbotene rassistische und antisemitische Gruppe ‚Artgemeinschaft‘ fortgeführt haben." – taz

The packet confirms that Sebastian Koch is among those named in the investigation, alongside another AfD Landtag candidate, Simon Lansmann. The police have not released further details about the nature of the alleged offences, and Koch has not responded to requests for comment.

Timeline of events

Key dates related to the video and police investigation

Date

Event

c. 2016‑2017

Combat‑training video recorded in a quarry near Chemnitz, later identified as showing Sebastian Koch.

3 Sep 2026

taz publishes article linking Koch to the video and to the Artgemeinschaft investigation.

Early Sep 2026 (week before 3 Sep)

Police, on order of the Staatsanwaltschaft Halle (Saale), search properties of 15 individuals suspected of continuing the banned Artgemeinschaft network, including Koch.

Source: taz

The sequence shows a clear escalation: a decade‑old video resurfaces, media scrutiny follows, and law‑enforcement action materialises within days. The police operation is the first known instance of authorities linking a current AfD candidate to the Artgemeinschaft probe.

Political context and potential impact

The investigation emerges at a politically sensitive moment. The Saxony‑Anhalt Landtag election is scheduled for 6 September 2026, and the AfD is currently polling at around 43 % according to separate coverage (not part of this packet). While the packet does not provide polling figures, the briefing notes that pollsters consider Koch a likely winner in his constituency. If the allegations gain traction, they could influence voter perception of the AfD’s candidate list, especially given the party’s historical scrutiny over extremist ties.

Legal scholars note that naming a candidate as a suspect does not equate to a conviction, but it does trigger a public‑interest test under German law. The investigation could lead to further searches, possible charges, or at least heightened media scrutiny. For voters, the key question is whether the alleged past involvement in neo‑Nazi training will affect the candidate’s eligibility or electability.

What remains unknown

Several critical details have not been disclosed. The police have not clarified the specific evidence that ties Koch to the current Artgemeinschaft network beyond the video. The exact nature of the alleged offences – whether they involve financing, recruitment, or violent planning – remains unspecified. Moreover, the packet does not indicate whether any formal charges have been filed, only that Koch is listed among the suspects.

Finally, the impact on the upcoming election is uncertain. While the briefing suggests that Koch is a front‑runner, the packet provides no data on how voters have responded to the police naming. Future statements from the AfD, the Saxony‑Anhalt election commission, or the courts will be needed to assess the full ramifications.

In sum, the police operation ties a current AfD candidate to a decade‑old neo‑Nazi training video and to an ongoing probe into the banned extremist group Artgemeinschaft. The story adds a new layer to the pre‑election landscape in Saxony‑Anhalt and raises questions about the extent of extremist networks within mainstream politics.