Five jailed over far-right plot to kidnap health minister

Five members of a German group of extreme right were imprisoned for conspiracy to topple the government and kidnapped the Minister of Health.

Four of the group has been described as “leaders” of a “terrorist organization” that plans to use violence to operate conditions similar to the civil war in Germany.

The group had planned to kidnap the Minister of Health Carl Luterbach – a defender of the strict Covid -19 measures during the epidemic – and the killing of his personal guards if necessary.

Interior Minister Nancy Weisser said that the defendants had raised a “tremendous threat” to national security.

The Koblenz Supreme Court heard that the group met in January 2022 and made a plan that included a sabotage attack to disrupt the energy network.

The group – which consists of four men between the ages of 46, 58 years and 77 – hoped to join the partners of the security forces.

Four of the defendants were sentenced to described them as leaders between five and nine months and eight years in prison by a court in West Germany.

The fifth defendant received a prison sentence for two years and 10 months after a trial for about two years.

The identities of the five persons convicted publicly have not been revealed.

The group was associated with the citizens of the Reich, whose followers believe that the German Empire, which collapsed in 1918, is still present. Investigators say he was led by Heinrich XIII, Prince Ross, the German Arstterat.

They are also said to have been inspired by the Qanon conspiracy theory movement Some supporters of Donald Trump are associated with In the United States.

After the verdict, he thanked Lauterbach – of the Social Democratic Party on the left (SDP) – and said that the state showed “it can defend itself against the theorists of the violent plot.”

“The violent plans of a coup, attacks on electrical infrastructure, and the kidnapping of Minister of Health Karl Lotterbach and his body guards, showed a huge threat,” said Weaiser.

She added that security services “take the threats represented by the citizens of the Reich scene seriously and” we protect our democracy. “

The ruling follows many experiences targeting right -wing right groups linked to the citizens of Reich that rejects the legitimacy of the modern German state.