Video with a questionable gesture: the police are expanding investigations into Melanie Müller

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Melanie Müller during a performance

Photo: Bodo Schackow / dpa

The police expanded their investigations after a performance by Ballermann singer Melanie Müller in Leipzig in mid-September.

"We are aware of the new video, which is why we have expanded our investigations," said a spokeswoman for the state police in Leipzig.

In the video that was circulating on Twitter and reported by the "Bild" newspaper, you can see how the singer's right arm rose several times during the performance on stage.

"It's about the allegation of using signs of unconstitutional organizations under paragraph 86a of the Criminal Code," said the spokeswoman.

Such characteristics can be flags, badges, pieces of uniform, slogans and forms of greeting.

Regarding the allegations, Müller told the "Bild" on Wednesday: "I've been on stage for eleven years and always do these hand movements.

Not from a right-wing extremist background, but "Zicke zacke zicke zacke", in other words exactly the way I do it there."

In the evening, the singer posted another statement on Instagram: “I repeat again: I have nothing to do with right-wing extremists or nationalistic ideas.

I condemn that in the strongest terms.«

Various versions of the video on which Müller can be seen with the gesture in question have recently been circulating on Twitter.

In the meantime, the company has blocked some corresponding tweets.

Only on Tuesday did Müller distance himself from right-wing extremist statements that could be heard in the audience on another video from the same performance.

During the performance, some viewers made statements with clearly right-wing extremist and National Socialist ideas, said Müller.

She immediately pointed out that this was not to be done, and some people were then expelled from the marquee.

"When there were more such statements, I immediately stopped my performance and left the event." She canceled a performance in Dresden planned for Wednesday.

dam/dpa