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Five Members of Far-Right Group Sentenced for Government Overthrow Plot
Five individuals affiliated with a far-right faction in Germany have received prison sentences for conspiring to overthrow the government and kidnap the nation’s health minister.
Four of these individuals were identified as key figures within the group, described as operating a “terrorist organization” that aimed to instigate conditions resembling civil war in Germany through violent means.
Their plot included a scheme to abduct Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, known for his strong advocacy for stringent Covid-19 measures during the pandemic. The group was prepared to resort to lethal violence against Lauterbach’s security personnel if necessary.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser indicated that the group represented “an enormous threat” to the country’s national security, highlighting the seriousness of their intentions.
According to proceedings at the Koblenz higher regional court, the conspirators united in January 2022 and developed a strategy that also involved a sabotage mission targeting the power grid to disrupt essential services.
The collective comprised four men ages 46 to 58 and a 77-year-old woman, all of whom expressed hopes of attracting disaffected members from the security forces to their cause.
The court proceedings culminated in sentences ranging from five years and nine months to eight years for the four principal defendants, with the fifth individual receiving a two-year and ten-month sentence after nearly two years of legal proceedings.
The identities of those convicted have not been publicly revealed.
These individuals were linked to the so-called “Citizens of the Reich,” a movement that espouses beliefs rooted in the notion that the German Empire, which ceased to exist in 1918, remains intact. Investigators pointed to Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, a member of the German aristocracy, as a key leader within this faction.
The group was also reportedly inspired by the QAnon conspiracy theory, which has gained traction among certain supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Upon the announcement of the verdict, Minister Lauterbach, representing the center-left Social Democratic Party (SDP), expressed gratitude to the police, emphasizing that the state has proven its capacity to counter violent conspiracy theories.
Faeser commented on the gravity of their violent ambitions, stating, “The violent plans for a coup, for attacks on the electricity infrastructure, for the kidnapping of Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and for the killing of his bodyguards have shown an enormous threat.”
She reassured the public that security services are vigilant regarding threats from the Citizens of the Reich movement and reiterated a commitment to safeguarding democracy.
This sentencing is part of broader legal actions directed against far-right groups that challenge the legitimacy of contemporary Germany’s governmental structure.
Source
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