Far-right activist sentenced to more than two years in prison in Germany with “coup” intentions

DUESSELDORF, Germany (DPA/EP). – A member of the German far-right group Kaiserreichsgruppe was sentenced on Wednesday to two years and ten months in prison for belonging to a terrorist organisation and having “coup” intentions.

The man, who worked as a technician and is 50 years old, had been detained since last October, and has been released pending a decision by the courts on how he will serve the remainder of his sentence.

Both the defence and prosecution lawyers have waived their right to appeal, so the sentence is final. However, the public prosecutor’s office in the German city of Duesseldorf had requested a longer prison sentence of three years and nine months.

The man had confessed during the trial that he had joined the terrorist group Kaiserreichsgruppe, a branch of the controversial Reich Citizens’ Movement (Reichsbuergerbewegung) and said he supported plans to “overthrow the German regime.”

According to the indictment, the Kaiserreichsgruppe was planning to disrupt the electricity supply in Germany for weeks by carrying out bomb attacks. It also planned to kidnap Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.