Dortmund, Germany — April 1, 2026 German authorities have charged a suspect accused of calling for attacks on prominent political figures, including former Chancellors Olaf Scholz and Angela Merkel, through Darknet postings. The Federal Prosecutor's Office announced the charges after the suspect's arrest in Dortmund last November by joint teams from the Federal Criminal Police Office and Federal Police. Investigators allege the individual compiled a list of more than 20 potential targets, with Scholz and Merkel among those named.
Security agencies had monitored the suspect since 2020 due to his involvement in anti-government protests during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case has been transferred to the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court for further proceedings.
Authorities have not disclosed specific details about the alleged attack plans but confirmed the suspect had ties to the Reichsbürger movement, a far-right group that rejects the legitimacy of the modern German state. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution had previously flagged the individual's online activities. The Reichsbürger movement has been under intensified scrutiny by German security services following multiple foiled plots against government institutions in recent years. The suspect's prior protest activities during pandemic restrictions first brought him to authorities' attention.