Five Jailed Over Plot to Kidnap German Minister
Far-right group sentenced for attempting to overthrow government
Five members of a German far-right group have been sentenced to prison for plotting to overthrow the government and kidnap Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.
Four of the individuals were identified as the ringleaders of a "terrorist organization" that sought to incite chaos and civil unrest in Germany. The group's plan included abducting Lauterbach—who was known for enforcing strict COVID-19 measures during the pandemic—and eliminating his bodyguards if necessary.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the convicted individuals as a severe threat to national security.
The Koblenz higher regional court revealed that the group was formed in January 2022 and devised a strategy that involved sabotaging the power grid to create widespread disruption.
The convicted members—four men aged between 46 and 58, along with a 77-year-old woman—hoped to recruit disaffected members of Germany’s security forces to support their cause.
The four ringleaders received prison sentences ranging from five years and nine months to eight years, while a fifth member was sentenced to two years and ten months following a nearly two-year trial.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of those convicted. However, they were linked to the Citizens of the Reich movement, whose followers deny the legitimacy of modern Germany and claim that the German Empire, which fell in 1918, still exists. Investigators have identified Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, a German aristocrat, as a key figure behind the movement.
The group was also reportedly influenced by the QAnon conspiracy theory, which has gained traction among some supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Following the verdict, Lauterbach, a member of the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), expressed gratitude to law enforcement and emphasized that the state had demonstrated its ability to defend itself against violent extremists.
Faeser reinforced the seriousness of the threat, citing the group's plans for a coup, attacks on critical infrastructure, and the assassination of Lauterbach’s security detail. She assured that German authorities remain vigilant against the Citizens of the Reich movement and are committed to safeguarding democracy.
The sentencing is part of an ongoing effort to dismantle far-right networks associated with the movement, which has been linked to multiple cases challenging the legitimacy of the German government.
Leave A Comment