Local prosecutors are investigating a pastor in Germany who referred to migrants as “predatory hordes” and claimed they were creating conditions that could trigger a civil war.

The pastor of the Evangelical Free Church in Riedlingen, southwest Germany, spoke of an “illegal, sometimes even violent invasion” and said that German Chancellor Angela Merkel wanted to control the population through “civil war-like conditions”.

The Stuttgarter Zeitung reports that the pastor – who has not been named – said: “Jesus has definitely not said that we should let our land be plundered by invading predatory hordes.”

The mayor of Riedlingen, Marcus Schafft, said the church did not speak for the local community. “This is a counterpoint, not reflecting my opinion, nor that of the citizens of Riedlingen.”

The pastor’s remarks were an “extreme position”, Mr Schafft said, adding that the local prosecutor must investigate their legality. However, the prosecutor said that the results of any investigation were not likely to be published until the New Year.

If an offence has been committed, the pastor could face up to five years in jail.

The Federation of Evangelical Free Churches also distanced itself from the pastor’s comments, with a spokesman stressing that the pastor is “not an ordained minister of the Free Churches.”

Earlier this month, a Spanish archbishop warned that the large influx of migrants currently sweeping Europe could be a “Trojan horse”. Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, Archbishop of Valencia, said: “This invasion of migrants: is it totally trustworthy? What will Europe be like in a few years, given when is happening now? You cannot play with history, nor with people’s identity.”

The sentiment was echoed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban last week, who said that mass immigration is threatening Europe’s “Christian roots”, adding: “When a crowd rushes into your house without declaring its intention, it is by definition an invasion.”

He added that Europe “can be saved”, but only if Europeans “take seriously the traditions, the Christian roots and all the values that are the basis of the civilisation of Europe.”