Austria has officially transformed Adolf Hitler's birthplace into a police station in a landmark effort to prevent the historic building from becoming a pilgrimage site for neo-Nazis. After years of political debate, legal battles, and public controversy, the government completed the €23 million project in Braunau am Inn, replacing the building's dark legacy with a symbol of democracy, law, and public security.

The former birthplace of Hitler has now become a district police headquarters, while the memorial stone reading "Never Again Fascism" remains outside the building. Authorities say the move is intended to strip the property of its symbolic value for extremist groups. However, Holocaust survivor organizations remain divided, arguing that the building should instead have served as a permanent educational memorial.

Austria converts Hitler's birthplace into police station | Nazi legacy erased? | Wion 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday confirmed that there were <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-8-killed-at-shisha-bars-in-germany-shooter-found-dead-say-police-281690">multiple clues indicating that a suspected gunman in Hanau had acted out of racism</a> and right-wing extremism. She also said that the authorities would do everything possible to clarify the background to the attack.

"There are many indications at the moment that the perpetrator acted on right-wing extremist, racist motives, out of hatred towards people of other origins, religion or appearance," Merkel told reporters on Thursday.

"Racism is poison, hatred is poison and this poison exists in society and it is to blame for too many crimes," she added.

At least ten people were killed including the gunman in two shooting incidents on Thursday.&nbsp;

The shooter targeted shisha bars in Hanau as police launched a manhunt to nab the culprits. Police quickly moved to seal off the two streets in Hanau.&nbsp;

Hours after the incident, the police found the suspected gunman dead at his home. During the search at his home, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/investigators-see-xenophobic-motive-behind-germany-shootings-281785">investigators also found text and video material </a>indicating "xenophobic motive" behind the shooting.

King's College London counter-terrorism expert Peter Neumann tweeted of the text that it contained "various, but mostly extreme-right views, with a do-it-yourself ideology, cobbled together out of parts found on the internet".

"The pattern is clear, and not at all new," he added.

Meanwhile, European Union&nbsp;expressed shock and sadness over the shooting.

"I am deeply shocked by the tragedy that took place last night in Hanau. My thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims, to whom I want to extend my sincerest condolences. We mourn with you today," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a former German government minister, tweeted.

EU Council head Charles Michel and European Parliament speaker David Sassoli echoed the sentiments in their own tweets.

Far-right attacks have become a particular concern for German authorities.&nbsp;

In October, a deadly anti-Semitic gun attack in the eastern city of Halle on the holy day of Yom Kippur underscored the rising threat of neo-Nazi violence. The rampage, in which two people were shot dead, was streamed live.

Last June, a conservative politician Walter Luebcke, an advocate of liberal refugee policy, was shot at his home.&nbsp;

On Friday police arrested 12 members of a German extreme-right group believed to have been plotting "shocking" large-scale attacks on mosques similar to the ones carried out in New Zealand last year.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday confirmed that there were multiple clues indicating that a suspected gunman in Hanau had acted out of racism and right-wing extremism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday confirmed that there were multiple clues indicating that a suspected gunman in Hanau had acted out of racism and right-wing extremism. She also said that the authorities would do everything possible to clarify the background to the attack. "There are many indications at the moment that the perpetrator acted on right-wing extremist, racist motives, out of hatred towards people of other origins, religion or appearance," Merkel told reporters on Thursday. "Racism is poison, hatred is poison and this poison exists in society and it is to blame for too many crimes," she added. At least ten people were killed including the gunman in two shooting incidents on Thursday. The shooter targeted shisha bars in Hanau as police launched a manhunt to nab the culprits. Police quickly moved to seal off the two streets in Hanau. Hours after the incident, the police found the suspected gunman dead at his home. During the search at his home, investigators also found text and video material indicating "xenophobic motive" behind the shooting. King's College London counter-terrorism expert Peter Neumann tweeted of the text that it contained "various, but mostly extreme-right views, with a do-it-yourself ideology, cobbled together out of parts found on the internet". "The pattern is clear, and not at all new," he added. Meanwhile, European Union expressed shock and sadness over the shooting. "I am deeply shocked by the tragedy that took place last night in Hanau. My thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims, to whom I want to extend my sincerest condolences. We mourn with you today," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a former German government minister, tweeted. EU Council head Charles Michel and European Parliament speaker David Sassoli echoed the sentiments in their own tweets. Far-right attacks have become a particular concern for German authorities. In October, a deadly anti-Semitic gun attack in the eastern city of Halle on the holy day of Yom Kippur underscored the rising threat of neo-Nazi violence. The rampage, in which two people were shot dead, was streamed live. Last June, a conservative politician Walter Luebcke, an advocate of liberal refugee policy, was shot at his home. On Friday police arrested 12 members of a German extreme-right group believed to have been plotting "shocking" large-scale attacks on mosques similar to the ones carried out in New Zealand last year. (With inputs from agencies)

Shooter in Germany acted on right-wing, racist motives, says Angela Merkel

Six months after the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gauri-lankesh-was-shot-in-chest-indrajit-lankesh-19935" target="_blank">murder</a> of journalist Gauri Lankesh, Karnataka police today arrested a man said to be linked with a right-wing radical group for his suspected involvement in the sensational killing.

The Special Investigation Team, probing the murder, said it arrested alleged gunrunner K T Naveen Kumar, who was taken into police custody on March 2 for interrogation in connection with the case.

This is the first arrest in the case after the 55-year old Lankesh, known as an anti-establishment voice with strident anti-right wing views, was shot dead at close range by unknown assailants at her home here on September 5 last year.

&quot;He (Naveen Kumar) has been arrested. He is an accused (in the case),&quot; Deputy Commissioner of Police M N Anucheth, the investigating officer in the case, told PTI here.

Police said Kumar, in his 30s, was suspected to be linked with a fringe right-wing radical group.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gauri-lankesh-and-that-piece-by-her-ex-husband-22818" target="_blank">Gauri </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gauri-lankesh-and-that-piece-by-her-ex-husband-22818" target="_blank">Lankesh,</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gauri-lankesh-and-that-piece-by-her-ex-husband-22818" target="_blank"> and that piece by her ex-husband</a>

Initially, he was arrested on February 19 on charges of illegally possessing five bullets.

A case under the Arms Act was then registered against him and he was remanded to judicial custody by a court.

Subsequently after interrogation, he was taken into eight-days custody by the SIT for suspected links in the Lankesh murder case.

The arrest comes two days after state Home Minister&nbsp;Ramalinga Reddy said the SIT would soon clear the air whether the police have picked up the right person in the case. &nbsp;Kumar&#39;s family has maintained that he was innocent and in no way connected to the case.

The state government, which constituted the SIT headed by Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) B K Singh, had&nbsp;announced Rs 10 lakh reward for anyone giving clues about the? perpetrators of the crime.

The killing of the journalist had drawn widespread condemnation and the Siddaramaiah government had come under flak for not making any headway in nabbing the culprits. PTI&nbsp;

The Special Investigation Team probing the murder said it had arrested alleged gunrunner KT Naveen Kumar who was taken into police custody on March 2 for interrogation

Six months after the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, Karnataka police today arrested a man said to be linked with a right-wing radical group for his suspected involvement in the sensational killing. The Special Investigation Team, probing the murder, said it arrested alleged gunrunner K T Naveen Kumar, who was taken into police custody on March 2 for interrogation in connection with the case. This is the first arrest in the case after the 55-year old Lankesh, known as an anti-establishment voice with strident anti-right wing views, was shot dead at close range by unknown assailants at her home here on September 5 last year. "He (Naveen Kumar) has been arrested. He is an accused (in the case)," Deputy Commissioner of Police M N Anucheth, the investigating officer in the case, told PTI here. Police said Kumar, in his 30s, was suspected to be linked with a fringe right-wing radical group. Also read: Gauri Lankesh, and that piece by her ex-husband Initially, he was arrested on February 19 on charges of illegally possessing five bullets. A case under the Arms Act was then registered against him and he was remanded to judicial custody by a court. Subsequently after interrogation, he was taken into eight-days custody by the SIT for suspected links in the Lankesh murder case. The arrest comes two days after state Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the SIT would soon clear the air whether the police have picked up the right person in the case. Kumar's family has maintained that he was innocent and in no way connected to the case. The state government, which constituted the SIT headed by Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) B K Singh, had announced Rs 10 lakh reward for anyone giving clues about the? perpetrators of the crime. The killing of the journalist had drawn widespread condemnation and the Siddaramaiah government had come under flak for not making any headway in nabbing the culprits. PTI

Karnataka SIT makes first arrest in Gauri Lankesh murder case

British police said on Friday that right-wing extremism was an important line of inquiry in the murder of lawmaker Jo Cox, after a man with suspected neo-Nazi links and a history of mental illness was arrested over the killing. 
 
Cox, 41, a supporter of Britain staying in the EU, was shot and stabbed on Thursday by a man who witnesses said shouted &quot;Britain first&quot;, in her own electoral district near Leeds in the county of West Yorkshire in northern England. 
 
Her murder has left Britain in shock and campaigning for next week&#39;s referendum on European Union membership has been suspended as a mark of respect. 
 
Officers arrested a 52-year-old man, named by British media as Thomas Mair, near the murder scene and he remains in custody where he is being questioned by detectives. 
 
Police said counter-terrorism officers are also involved in the investigation into the attack, which occurred as Cox arrived for a meeting with constituents. 
 
&quot;We are aware of the speculation within the media in respect of the suspect&#39;s link to mental health services and this is a clear line of enquiry which we are pursuing,&quot; West Yorkshire Police Temporary Chief Constable Dee Collins said in a statement. 
 
&quot;We are also aware of the inference within the media of the suspect being linked to right-wing extremism, which is again a priority line of enquiry which will help us establish the motive for the attack on Jo.&quot; 
 
Britain First, a far-right nationalist group, denied any links with Mair but a US civil rights group said he had been associated in the past with a neo-Nazi organisation. 
 
In Birstall, a quiet town of a few thousand people, weeping mourners laid flowers at a monument near the scene of the attack. One message read: &quot;Fascists feed on fear.&quot; 
 
&quot;It is a vile act that has killed her,&quot; Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party which Cox represented, said as he laid flowers in Birstall with Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday. &quot;We will not allow those people that spread hatred and poison to divide our society.&quot; 
 
The killing prompted a suspension of campaigning for the June 23 EU referendum, the tone of which has become ugly and included bitter personal recriminations as well as furious debate of issues such as immigration and the economy. 
 
The murder sparked debate in Britain, which has strict gun controls, about the safety of lawmakers, the heightened tempo of political confrontation and whether the slaying would affect the outcome of the referendum. 
 
Cameron has agreed to recall parliament on Monday in tribute to Cox, a well-liked mother of two young children and considered an outstanding member of the new intake of Labour parliamentarians. She had been a prominent aid worker. 
 
Both sides have put on hold their national EU campaigns until at least Sunday. 
 
Shares, oil and bond yields rose after campaigning was suspended, reversing earlier losses this week which followed a swing in opinion polls towards the Leave camp. 
 
The implied probability of a vote to remain rose to 67 per cent, up from 65 per cent on Thursday, according to Betfair odds. Some investors suggested sympathy for Cox could boost the Remain campaign, which opinion polls indicate had fallen behind Leave. 
 
Neo-Nazi Link 
 
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a civil rights group based in Alabama, said on its website that it had obtained records showing a Thomas Mair had links with the neo-Nazi organisation National Alliance (NA) dating back to 1999. 
 
The SPLC posted images showing what it said were purchase orders for books bought by Mair, whose address is given as Batley in northern England, from the NA&#39;s publishing arm National Vanguard Books in May of that year. The orders included a manual on how to build a pistol, it said. 
 
The NA said it was not familiar with him. 
 
&quot;The National Alliance had and has no connection with Thomas Mair any more than with any other book customer; we did not work with him, were not familiar with him, and did not remember his name even after the release of the illegally-obtained book receipts,&quot; the group said in its press release. 
 
The SPLC said it checked his name on its database. 
 
&quot;When they announced that he was a suspect, we ran his name in our file and found these documents. We don&#39;t know anything more about him,&quot; Heidi Beirich, Intelligence Project Director at the Southern Poverty Law Center, told Reuters. 
 
Mair&#39;s brother said Mair had not expressed strong political views, the Guardian newspaper reported. 
 
&quot;He has a history of mental illness but he has had help,&quot; the Guardian quoted his brother, Scott Mair, as saying. &quot;My brother is not violent and is not all that political. I don&#39;t even know who he votes for.&quot; 
 
Neighbours described a man who had lived in the same house for at least 40 years and helped locals weed their flowerbeds and inquired after their pets. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m totally devastated - I didn&#39;t want to believe it. He&#39;s been very helpful to me. Anything I asked him to do he did very willingly and sometimes without my needing to ask,&quot; said next-door neighbour Diana Peters, 65. 
 
&quot;I saw him the day before. I was taking my cats to the vet and he came and asked me how they were,&quot; she told Reuters. 
 
Gun ownership is highly restricted in Britain, and attacks of any nature on public figures are rare. The last British lawmaker to have been killed in an attack was Ian Gow, who died after a bomb planted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded under his car at his home in southern England in 1990. 
 
Britain&#39;s Union flag was flying at half-mast over the Houses of Parliament, Queen Elizabeth&#39;s London residence Buckingham Palace and Cameron&#39;s Downing Street residence. 
 
&quot;Unite&nbsp;Against&nbsp;Hatred&quot; 
 
The queen wrote a private letter of condolence to Cox&#39;s husband. Members of the public and lawmakers, many weeping, laid flowers outside the Houses of Parliament. Beside a picture of Cox smiling, there were dozens of white candles, bunches of flowers and messages of condolence. 
 
&quot;You can&#39;t kill democracy,&quot; read one message on Parliament Square. Another said: &quot;We will unite against hatred.&quot; 
 
Others put flowers on the houseboat on the River Thames where Cox had lived with her husband and two children, aged three and five. 
 
Leaders across Europe and the world have expressed shock at the killing of Cox, a Cambridge University graduate and former charity worker whose job took her to countries such as Afghanistan and Darfur. 
 
A fund set up in her honour had raised more than $201,000&nbsp;for charities she supported in six hours. 
 
Cameron said the killing of Cox, who had worked on US&nbsp;President Barack Obama&#39;s 2008 election campaign, was a tragedy. 
 
Hillary Clinton said she was horrified. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a more respectful dialogue in political disputes after the tragedy. 
 
Cox had arrived in Birstall for a &quot;surgery&quot; in a library with members of the public, a one-to-one meeting much like when a patient consults a doctor. 
 
In Westminster, where lawmakers do much of their work in parliament, armed police patrol the entrances, corridors and halls but there is often no security in their home electoral districts, or constituencies. 
 
Tempers can flare during surgeries and parliamentarians are often subjected to abuse on social media. Cox had complained to police after receiving &quot;malicious communications&quot; and a man was arrested and later released with a caution in connection with the investigation in March. 
 
A spokeswoman for the House of Commons said it was reissuing security advice to lawmakers and police chiefs said they had asked local forces to reiterate safety advice.

Far-right nationalist group Britain First and the neo-Nazi organisation National Alliance have denied any link to him

British police said on Friday that right-wing extremism was an important line of inquiry in the murder of lawmaker Jo Cox, after a man with suspected neo-Nazi links and a history of mental illness was arrested over the killing. Cox, 41, a supporter of Britain staying in the EU, was shot and stabbed on Thursday by a man who witnesses said shouted "Britain first", in her own electoral district near Leeds in the county of West Yorkshire in northern England. Her murder has left Britain in shock and campaigning for next week's referendum on European Union membership has been suspended as a mark of respect. Officers arrested a 52-year-old man, named by British media as Thomas Mair, near the murder scene and he remains in custody where he is being questioned by detectives. Police said counter-terrorism officers are also involved in the investigation into the attack, which occurred as Cox arrived for a meeting with constituents. "We are aware of the speculation within the media in respect of the suspect's link to mental health services and this is a clear line of enquiry which we are pursuing," West Yorkshire Police Temporary Chief Constable Dee Collins said in a statement. "We are also aware of the inference within the media of the suspect being linked to right-wing extremism, which is again a priority line of enquiry which will help us establish the motive for the attack on Jo." Britain First, a far-right nationalist group, denied any links with Mair but a US civil rights group said he had been associated in the past with a neo-Nazi organisation. In Birstall, a quiet town of a few thousand people, weeping mourners laid flowers at a monument near the scene of the attack. One message read: "Fascists feed on fear." "It is a vile act that has killed her," Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party which Cox represented, said as he laid flowers in Birstall with Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday. "We will not allow those people that spread hatred and poison to divide our society." The killing prompted a suspension of campaigning for the June 23 EU referendum, the tone of which has become ugly and included bitter personal recriminations as well as furious debate of issues such as immigration and the economy. The murder sparked debate in Britain, which has strict gun controls, about the safety of lawmakers, the heightened tempo of political confrontation and whether the slaying would affect the outcome of the referendum. Cameron has agreed to recall parliament on Monday in tribute to Cox, a well-liked mother of two young children and considered an outstanding member of the new intake of Labour parliamentarians. She had been a prominent aid worker. Both sides have put on hold their national EU campaigns until at least Sunday. Shares, oil and bond yields rose after campaigning was suspended, reversing earlier losses this week which followed a swing in opinion polls towards the Leave camp. The implied probability of a vote to remain rose to 67 per cent, up from 65 per cent on Thursday, according to Betfair odds. Some investors suggested sympathy for Cox could boost the Remain campaign, which opinion polls indicate had fallen behind Leave. Neo-Nazi Link The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a civil rights group based in Alabama, said on its website that it had obtained records showing a Thomas Mair had links with the neo-Nazi organisation National Alliance (NA) dating back to 1999. The SPLC posted images showing what it said were purchase orders for books bought by Mair, whose address is given as Batley in northern England, from the NA's publishing arm National Vanguard Books in May of that year. The orders included a manual on how to build a pistol, it said. The NA said it was not familiar with him. "The National Alliance had and has no connection with Thomas Mair any more than with any other book customer; we did not work with him, were not familiar with him, and did not remember his name even after the release of the illegally-obtained book receipts," the group said in its press release. The SPLC said it checked his name on its database. "When they announced that he was a suspect, we ran his name in our file and found these documents. We don't know anything more about him," Heidi Beirich, Intelligence Project Director at the Southern Poverty Law Center, told Reuters. Mair's brother said Mair had not expressed strong political views, the Guardian newspaper reported. "He has a history of mental illness but he has had help," the Guardian quoted his brother, Scott Mair, as saying. "My brother is not violent and is not all that political. I don't even know who he votes for." Neighbours described a man who had lived in the same house for at least 40 years and helped locals weed their flowerbeds and inquired after their pets. "I'm totally devastated - I didn't want to believe it. He's been very helpful to me. Anything I asked him to do he did very willingly and sometimes without my needing to ask," said next-door neighbour Diana Peters, 65. "I saw him the day before. I was taking my cats to the vet and he came and asked me how they were," she told Reuters. Gun ownership is highly restricted in Britain, and attacks of any nature on public figures are rare. The last British lawmaker to have been killed in an attack was Ian Gow, who died after a bomb planted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded under his car at his home in southern England in 1990. Britain's Union flag was flying at half-mast over the Houses of Parliament, Queen Elizabeth's London residence Buckingham Palace and Cameron's Downing Street residence. "Unite Against Hatred" The queen wrote a private letter of condolence to Cox's husband. Members of the public and lawmakers, many weeping, laid flowers outside the Houses of Parliament. Beside a picture of Cox smiling, there were dozens of white candles, bunches of flowers and messages of condolence. "You can't kill democracy," read one message on Parliament Square. Another said: "We will unite against hatred." Others put flowers on the houseboat on the River Thames where Cox had lived with her husband and two children, aged three and five. Leaders across Europe and the world have expressed shock at the killing of Cox, a Cambridge University graduate and former charity worker whose job took her to countries such as Afghanistan and Darfur. A fund set up in her honour had raised more than $201,000 for charities she supported in six hours. Cameron said the killing of Cox, who had worked on US President Barack Obama's 2008 election campaign, was a tragedy. Hillary Clinton said she was horrified. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a more respectful dialogue in political disputes after the tragedy. Cox had arrived in Birstall for a "surgery" in a library with members of the public, a one-to-one meeting much like when a patient consults a doctor. In Westminster, where lawmakers do much of their work in parliament, armed police patrol the entrances, corridors and halls but there is often no security in their home electoral districts, or constituencies. Tempers can flare during surgeries and parliamentarians are often subjected to abuse on social media. Cox had complained to police after receiving "malicious communications" and a man was arrested and later released with a caution in connection with the investigation in March. A spokeswoman for the House of Commons said it was reissuing security advice to lawmakers and police chiefs said they had asked local forces to reiterate safety advice.

Mair's links to right-wing extremism being looked into: Cops