Title: German Suspect in Corona Opposition Arrested in Portugal
The alleged mastermind behind a group that has been under scrutiny for months has been apprehended in Portugal, as per the investigating authorities. The suspect, a 39-year-old German national, is reportedly wanted for opposing coronavirus measures, and it's rumored that this group intended to employ weapons to challenge these restrictions in Germany. Currently, the suspect is in extradition proceedings in Portugal, with the Koblenz Public Prosecutor General's Office announcing his detention.
According to reports, the man, who resided in Bavaria at the time of his indictment in June 2023 before the state security chamber of the Koblenz regional court, is suspected of forming a criminal organization and an armed group named "Paladin" in collaboration with two other individuals between February and May 2021. Witnesses have reported no plans for executing attacks.
Investigators have alleged that the 39-year-old governed the production of weapon parts using a 3D printer and trained group members. Despite intensive searches, his whereabouts remained unknown since June 2023 at the earliest. His arrest in Portugal happened in November, but the timing of his transfer to Germany remains uncertain. The public prosecutor's office chose to remain silent, citing the suspect's privacy rights.
Comrades-in-Arms from Rhineland-Palatinate
The ARD political magazine "Panorama" and NDR-produced research piece "STRG_F" revealed prior intelligence about the case. Investigators stumbled upon evidence during weapon manufacturing probes that the suspect abandoned his solitary militant lifestyle. They assert that he used messaging apps and social platforms to find companions and facilitate networking.
The 39-year-old, who now faces European arrest warrant charges, is a local from the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate. Two of his alleged accomplices were identified as a 56-year-old and a 63-year-old. The public prosecutor's office revealed that a crime scene existed in Rhineland-Palatinate, which provided the essential jurisdiction for their case.
The formation of a criminal organization can result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison, while armed group formation can lead to a two-year term. However, if the perpetrator is one of the group's leaders, they can serve up to ten years in prison.
A Mirrored Case
The "Paladin" group draws similarities to another organization under trial, the "United Patriots." Ten individuals, including four men and a woman, are facing charges at the Koblenz Higher Regional Court (OLG) for attempting to establish a domestic terrorist organization. The defendants were accused of planning a nationwide power blackout and the kidnapping of the Federal Health Minister Klaus Lauterbach (SPD).
Upon overthrowing Germany, they reportedly planned to establish a new constitution based on the German Empire model in 1871. One of the defendants detailed his journey into this scene of coronavirus measure opponents during the trial, claiming that he saw Germany moving towards a dictatorship during the pandemic.
While no definitive details exist regarding a "Paladin" group in the context of this source material, further research may shed light on potential affiliations or contexts.
