German right-wing extremist gets prison sentence for terror plot

BERLIN

A German right-wing extremist has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison on Monday for his involvement in the planning of a violent overthrow of the democratically elected government.

The Frankfurt Higher Regional Court found the accused, a 62-year-old man, guilty of membership in a terrorist organization, called “United Patriots,” and taking part in a three-stage coup plan in 2022.

According to the prosecutors, the plot included attacking the electricity network and kidnapping then-Health Minister Karl Lauterbach during a talk show appearance, with the ultimate goal of creating chaos and overthrowing the government.

The prosecution, which had sought a sentence of two years and ten months, described the group as “amateurish but dangerous.” The 62-year-old suspect had agreed to provide his garage as temporary weapons storage for the plot in 2022, though no weapons were ultimately stored there.

Karl Lauterbach, who served as Germany's health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, became a prominent target for extremist groups due to his role in implementing coronavirus restrictions. As a trained epidemiologist, he advocated for strict measures including mask mandates, social distancing requirements, and vaccination campaigns to combat the spread of the virus.

Almost all the suspects involved in the plot to kidnap the minister were members or followers of the far-right Reichsburger movement, which rejects the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany. Five other members of the group “United Patriots” are currently on trial at Koblenz Higher Regional Court.

The Reichsburger movement, along with other far-right groups, was particularly active in protesting public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. They organized demonstrations against vaccination requirements, spread conspiracy theories about the pandemic, and rejected government authority to impose health restrictions.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency BfV estimates that the movement has around 23,000 followers.