Five Convicted in German Far-Right Kidnapping Conspiracy

A German court has sentenced five members of a far-right group for a plot to kidnap Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and incite civil unrest, reflecting growing concerns over domestic terrorism.

Five members of a far-right organization in Germany have received prison sentences for their conspiracy to kidnap the country's health minister and incite a violent overthrow of the government. The group, identified by authorities as part of a "terrorist organisation," plotted attacks that aimed to create a civil war-like atmosphere within Germany, with plans to murder security personnel, if necessary.

The group targeted Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, known for advocating stringent Covid-19 measures, and planned a series of violent acts including potential sabotage of the power grid. Among the group were four men aged 46 to 58 and a 77-year-old woman who collectively hoped to rally disillusioned security forces to their cause.

The Koblenz regional court sentenced the main ringleaders to terms ranging from five years and nine months to eight years in prison, while the fifth defendant received a two-year and ten-month sentence after a protracted trial that lasted nearly two years. The identities of those sentenced were not disclosed to the public.

The far-right activists were affiliated with the "Citizens of the Reich" movement, which bizarrely maintains that the German Empire still exists, following its collapse in 1918. Authorities have linked the group's ideologies to broader extremist movements, including QAnon. Following the judgment, Minister Lauterbach expressed gratitude to law enforcement for thwarting what he characterized as violent conspiracy ideations, as Interior Minister Nancy Faeser reiterated the significant risks posed by the group and affirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding democracy against such threats.

This ruling is part of a larger crackdown on far-right militancy in Germany, as the country grapples with challenges to its constitutional order from radical factions.