Alleged ringleader of corona opponents arrested

Extremism - Alleged ringleader of corona opponents arrested

The suspected ringleader of a group that, according to investigators, wanted to take up arms against coronavirus measures in Germany has been arrested in Portugal. The 39-year-old German is in extradition custody there, the Koblenz Public Prosecutor General's Office announced on Tuesday. The man, who most recently lived in Bavaria and against whom charges were brought in June 2023, is alleged to have formed a criminal organization and an armed group called "Paladin" with two other defendants from February to May 2021. The 39-year-old is also alleged to have produced weapon parts using a 3D printer and trained group members. There were no indications of plans for an attack.

The ARD political magazine "Panorama" (NDR) and the NDR research format "STRG_F" had previously reported on this. According to these reports, the 39-year-old comes from Rhineland-Palatinate.

Statement from the Public Prosecutor General's Office

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1. The arrest of the suspected ringleader in Portugal has highlighted the growing issue of extremism in Germany, with the alleged formation of a criminal organization and an armed group called "Paladin" against coronavirus measures.
2. Despite living in Bavaria and being charged by the attorney general's office in June 2023, the 39-year-old's alleged extremist activities extended to the production of weapon parts using a 3D printer and training group members.
3. The alleged ringleader's reported ties to Rhineland-Palatinate underscore the regional spread of extremist ideologies in Germany, a concern that warrants further investigation and prevention measures.
4. Authorities in Coblenz, where the public prosecutor general's office is based, are likely to play a significant role in the extradition proceedings and potential trial of the arrested individual and his co-defendants.
5. The international nature of this case, with alleged activities in Germany, Portugal, and potential links to Bavaria, underscores the need for cross-border cooperation in combating criminality and extremism in the modern era.

Source: www.stern.de