A “right-wing nationalist” German soldier has been presented with new charges of plotting to carry out false flag attacks that would result in retribution against immigrants, after an earlier case against him was thrown out of court.
Federal prosecutors have charged 28-year-old former lieutenant Franco Hans A., who was arrested in April, and two of his accomplices with planning an act of violence and violating weapons and explosives laws.
“Motivated by a nationalist attitude, he planned to carry out an attack at an unknown time on high-ranking politicians and public figures who stood up for what the accused regarded as an especially refugee-friendly policy,” said the prosecutors’ statement. “He wanted people to believe that his attacks were related to radical Islamist terrorism committed by somebody who had been granted asylum.”
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Among the targets were German Justice Minister Heiko Maas, Greens politician Claudia Roth, and former president Joachim Gauck.
In his stockpile were four firearms, including an assault rifle, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition and fifty explosive devices, some of which appear to have been taken from military storage. The most bizarre part of the plan included Franco Hans assuming the identity of an undocumented refugee and living in a hostel on benefits for several months, despite speaking no foreign languages, while receiving state benefits.
Previous – more severe – charges of planning a terrorist attack, leveled against him and two other soldiers, were dismissed by a top criminal court in November due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
