A witness alerted the police in Essen on Thursday evening because, according to her own statement, she had heard isolated cries of "Sieg Heil" from a group.
After the clue, civilian officials first observed the group in front of a bar in the Steele district.
Riot police would then have recorded the personal details of the people gathered there, who were between 31 and 58 years old.
Essen - You are partly to be assigned to the so-called "Steeler boys", said the police.
The "Steeler Jungs" are a group of neo-Nazis, rockers and hooligans that appear mainly in Essen.
The witness described the suspect as around 45 to 55 years old.
It should be 1.85 to 190 meters tall and 110 to 120 kilograms.
He wore a hoodie and was bald.
The state security took over the further investigations, it said.
The police are looking for more witnesses.
dpa
