11 months ago
German-Polish Man Arrested for Plotting Politician Assassinations on Darknet
Imagine someone used a secret part of the internet, called the darknet, to plan bad things.
Police in Germany caught a man who they say was telling people online to hurt politicians, like former leaders Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz.
He also allegedly shared how to build bombs and asked for money to pay people to do the hurting.
He is accused of writing 'death sentences' and sharing private information about people he wanted harmed.
This man is linked to a group that doesn't believe Germany is a real country and is being investigated for serious crimes.
German police arrested a German-Polish man, Martin S., in Dortmund on suspicion of plotting to assassinate politicians.
The suspect allegedly used the darknet since June to call for attacks on public figures, including former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz.
He is accused of publishing instructions for building explosives and soliciting cryptocurrency donations for 'bounties' on victims.
The man, identified as 49 years old by Spiegel Online, reportedly listed 20 targets, including judges and prosecutors, on a site filled with far-right and conspiracy content.
He is being investigated for charges including financing terrorism and inciting violence, and has been placed in pre-trial detention.
- Who
- A German-Polish man, partially identified as Martin S., aged 49
- What
- Arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate politicians and other public figures via the darknet.
- Where
- Dortmund, Germany
- When
- Arrested late Monday; investigations ongoing.
- Why
- Allegedly motivated by right-wing conspiracy theories and linked to the 'Citizens of the Reich' movement.
Key facts
- Suspect's Name
- Martin S. (partially named)
- Nationality
- German-Polish
- Arrest Date
- Late Monday
- Location of Arrest
- Dortmund, Germany
- Alleged Actions
- Online calls for politician assassinations, publishing bomb-building instructions, requesting crypto donations for 'bounties', posting personal data of potential victims.
- Potential Targets
- Politicians (including Angela Merkel, Olaf Scholz), judges, prosecutors
- Investigation Charges
- Financing terrorism, inciting violence endangering the state
Quotes
prosecutors
The Public Prosecutor's Office in Germany.
“The suspect, a German-Polish man only partially named as Martin S., was detained late Monday in the western city of Dortmund, prosecutors said in a statement.”
wionews.com
“Martin S. was brought before a judge on Tuesday and placed in pre-trial detention, prosecutors said.”
wionews.com
The Public Prosecutor's Office
The Public Prosecutor's Office in Germany.
“He also published instructions for building explosive devices and requested donations in cryptocurrencies, to be used as "bounties" for the killings.”
wionews.com
“he had posted "death sentences pronounced by himself" as well as the "sensitive personal data of potential victims".”
wionews.com
judicial sources
Sources close to the judicial proceedings in Germany.
“German police have arrested a man who allegedly made online calls on the darknet to kill politicians, including former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, judicial sources said Tuesday.”
wionews.com
a source close to the investigation
An unnamed individual with direct knowledge of the ongoing investigation.
“the man had acted alone, was linked to a right-wing conspiracy theorist movement, and that Merkel and Scholz were among those on his hit list.”
wionews.com
