Far-right leaders assault journalists at violent German extremist gathering

A far-right rally turned ugly when Swiss Junge Tat leaders physically attacked reporters. Now, police and prosecutors are closing in.

, and Administrator

2026 February 9 . 5:05 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of people standing in front of a building, holding banners and placards... — The image shows a group of people standing in front of a building, holding banners and placards with text on them. There are two people sitting on an object in the foreground, and a dustbin on the right side of the image. In the background, there are buildings with windows, lights, and sign boards, suggesting that the group is participating in a protest in Germany.

Far-right leaders assault journalists at violent German extremist gathering

A far-right gathering in eastern Germany turned violent in late January when attendees attacked journalists and photographers. Around 30 extremists, some wearing masks, targeted reporters from the Recherche-Nord media network. The incident involved leaders of the Swiss group Junge Tat, who have prior convictions and face upcoming trials in Switzerland.

The confrontation took place in Schnellroda, where far-right activists had assembled. Among them were representatives of Junge Tat, Austrian extremist Martin Sellner, and members of Germany's AfD youth wing. Two leaders of Junge Tat—Manuel Corchia and Tobias Lingg—were directly involved in the aggression. Corchia struck a journalist's camera lens, while Lingg sprayed water at photographers.

No injuries were reported, but the assaults have prompted police investigations for assault, insult, and theft. The incident is particularly notable as Corchia and Lingg are due to stand trial in Switzerland within months for previous offences.

This marks the only documented case of physical violence by Junge Tat members against media workers in the past two years. The previous incident occurred in February 2024 during a demonstration in Zürich.

The attack has raised concerns about far-right violence against journalists. Swiss prosecutors may now examine the leaders' involvement more closely. Police continue to investigate the assaults, which could lead to further legal consequences for those responsible.