Source:
https://scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3004761/germany-says-new-zealand-mosque-massacre-suspect-brenton-tarrant Europe
Germany says New Zealand mosque massacre suspect Brenton Tarrant sent money to a second far-right group
- German police say Brenton Tarrant donated to the Generation Identity white nationalist group in France
- Austrian authorities have already said Tarrant sent money to a different far-right group there
epaselect epa04785481 The famous Bavarian Neuschwanstein Castle is swathed in the national colours of Germany near the town of Fuessen late 5 June 2015 ahead of the G7 Summit which begins 6 June in Elmau in the southern German alps. EPA/FRANK MAY
The suspected New Zealand mosque gunman sent money to a French far-right group and once bought a ticket to Bavaria’s “fairy tale castle”, German police said Thursday.
The Federal Criminal Police Office confirmed that it briefed German lawmakers Wednesday on its investigation into ties the alleged Christchurch mosque attacker had to Germany.
The closed-door briefing included information German police had about money that the suspect, Brenton Harrison Tarrant, transferred to the Generation Identity group in France.
The far-right group which espouses a white nationalist ideology has spread to other European countries since its founding in 2012.
Federal police declined to elaborate, but the German news agency dpa reported that Tarrant transferred €2,200 (US$2,470) in September 2017.
Austrian authorities have already said Tarrant donated €1,500 (US$1,680) to Generation Identity’s sister organisation, the Identitarian Movement of Austria.
The famous Bavarian Neuschwanstein Castle is swathed in the national colours of Germany in this file photo. Photo: EPA
The group’s head, Martin Sellner, has confirmed he exchanged emails with Tarrant but denies involvement in the attack.
New Zealand police have said that Tarrant will face 50 murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges.
German police said Tarrant used his credit card last November to pay for a ticket to Neuschwanstein Castle – a popular tourist destination near the Austrian border commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century.
Tarrant at the time was travelling around Europe with stops including Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Estonia.
Tarrant in 2014 also made a payment to a German living in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, police said. It was unclear what the purpose of the payment was. Federal police said their investigation is ongoing.