Latest news with #FederalCourtofJustice
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Suspected member of Yemen's Houthi rebels arrested in Germany
German authorities have arrested a man suspected of being a member of Yemen's Houthi militia, federal prosecutors said on Thursday. The suspect, a Yemeni national who was taken into custody in the southern town of Dachau, just outside Munich, is believed to have joined the group in Yemen in 2022, undergoing military training and ideological instructions. According to Germany's top law enforcement agency, he joined fighting in Yemen's Marib province in early 2023. Prosecutors accuse the suspect of having been a member of a terrorist organization abroad as an adolescent. Under German criminal law, anyone aged between 18 and 21 at the time of the offence is classified as an adolescent. The accused, only named as Hussein H. in line with Germany's strict privacy laws, was remanded in custody after being brought before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, Germany's highest court of civil and criminal jurisdiction. Federal prosecutors, who are also based in Karlsruhe, said the declared aim of the Houthis is "to strengthen and expand their position of power in Yemen and to destroy Israel." The Iran-backed rebel group, which controls large parts of war-torn Yemen, has been firing missiles at Israel since the beginning of the latest Gaza war in what it says is a show of solidarity with Palestinian extremist movement Hamas, another Iranian proxy group. The Houthis have also been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Epoch Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Germany Makes 3 Arrests Over Exploding Parcels Plot
Three men have been arrested over an alleged Russian plot in 2024 to send exploding parcels by air from Germany to Ukraine. In July 2024, several parcels blew up at depots in Birmingham, England, the German city of Leipzig, and the Polish capital, Warsaw. In October, the German authorities said they were investigating incendiary devices hidden inside parcels that had caught fire at a warehouse in Leipzig in July. In November, Kestutis Budrys, a national security adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, said the Russia denied any involvement. 'We know nothing about it. We do not rule out that this is just more fake news or a manifestation of blind Russophobia,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig, in a statement after the May 14 arrests, said: 'We know that Russia is trying to destabilise Western democracies by all means, including targeted sabotage and perfidious intelligence methods. Related Stories 12/28/2024 12/17/2024 'Our security authorities ... are keeping a close eye on this threat.' At the time of the incidents, the head of Germany's BfV intelligence agency, Thomas Haldenwang, told a parliamentary committee that when one air freight parcel caught fire, it almost caused a plane crash over Germany. On May 14, Germany's federal prosecutor general gave details of arrests that had taken place in the few days prior. In a Vladyslav T. was arrested on May 9 in Cologne, and Daniil B. was arrested on May 10 in Konstanz, in southern Germany. Both were brought before a court on May 11, following the execution of arrest warrants from an investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice. Details of their arrests remained secret until Yevhen B. was detained in the Swiss canton of Thurgau on May 13 following a request by the German authorities. 'The accused are strongly suspected of acting as agents for the purposes of sabotage,' Germany's federal prosecutor general said. 'In this context, they are also accused of having declared their willingness to commit aggravated arson and to cause an explosion. 'To this end, the accused were to work together to send packages containing explosive or incendiary devices from Germany to recipients in Ukraine, which would ignite during transport.' The prosecution alleged that Vladyslav T. had sent two test packages with GPS trackers at the behest of Yevhen B. with the goal of scouting 'suitable transport routes.' 'Yevhen B. also provided the package contents via Daniil B.,' the prosecution stated. Yevhen B. is expected to be extradited from Switzerland and to face trial with his alleged accomplices. Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who delivered his first speech to parliament since taking office on May 6, did not mention the arrests but Intelligence officials have repeatedly warned of a growing threat from hybrid attacks in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In a speech in October 2024, the head of Britain's MI5 domestic intelligence agency, Ken McCallum, said: 'While the Russian military grinds away on the battlefield, at horrendous human cost, we're also seeing Putin's henchmen seeking to strike elsewhere, in the misguided hope of weakening Western resolve.' McCallum said the UK 'has taken robust action to constrain Russian aggression.' 'Earlier this year, the last remaining Russian military intelligence officer was expelled from the UK, and diplomatic accreditation removed from a number of sites,' he said. In May 2024, Britain In April 2024, Dylan Earl, 20, and several other people were charged in Britain with conspiring to commit espionage activities on behalf of Russia. Earl pleaded guilty in October in connection with an arson attack at an industrial unit in east London, connected with Ukrainian-linked businesses owned by Oddisey and Meest UK. His five co-defendants, who deny the charges, are due to go on trial in London in June. Reuters contributed to this report.
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner convicted of 'insulting' jail staff
Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner has been convicted of insulting prison guards in the jail where he is serving a rape sentence. The 48-year-old paedophile was hauled before judges in Germany after branding jail staff 'a laughing stock'. He snapped at guards in Sehnde prison during a meeting to discuss whether he could be moved from solitary confinement. Brueckner moaned he was being 'tortured' and treated 'inhumanely' during the March 2024 outburst. A female guard told the court Brueckner was 'enraged' and told her to 'shut your gob' before the meeting was halted. Under German law it is illegal to insult prison officials. Brueckner later penned an apology letter to the guards, saying he 'woke up on the wrong side of the bed'. He is no longer being held in solitary confinement as he nears the end of a seven-year sentence for rape. Brueckner was found guilty of insulting a prison official at Lehrte District Court. He was sentenced to probation and told to pay court costs. If he commits another crime while on probation, he will be recalled to prison for one month. The exact length of his probation is yet to be decided. Brueckner was brought to court in an unmarked prison van shortly after 9am. Wearing a grey jacket, t-shirt, trousers and black shoes, he appeared more relaxed than in previous court appearances. He spoke only to confirm his name and nationality - leaving all other questions to his lawyer. Prosecutors had been hoping Brueckner would be given a new prison term for the jail outburst. The earliest date he can be released from Sehnde prison is September, but his lawyer told The Mirror a more realistic date, due to his inability to pay fines he still owes, is February next year. Prosecutors investigating Madeleine's disappearance have been under massive pressure to charge him over the 2007 case. He was dramatically named as the prime suspect in Madeleine's disappearance in 2020. Brueckner was living in an isolated farmhouse in Praia da Luz when she vanished from her parents' holiday apartment in May 2007. But despite the lengthy police investigation, detectives appear to be no closer to charging him with Madeleine's disappearance. Brueckner was cleared last October of a string of sex crimes he was accused of carrying out in Portugal. Prosecutors are awaiting the outcome of an appeal against those verdicts lodged in Germany's Federal Court of Justice. On May 3, Madeleine's family marked 18 years since the little girl disappeared, calling her a 'very beautiful and unique person' ahead of what would be her 22nd birthday. She was just three when she vanisehd while the McCann's were on holiday in Praia da Luz,. A statement from her parents Kate and Gerry McCann and the family said: 'The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to 'leave no stone unturned' is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this.' On May 12, Madeleine would be turning 22 and the family said: 'No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day. We continue to 'celebrate' her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her.' In April, ministers approved more than £100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany bans far-right group linked to Reich Citizens movement
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has banned the far-right group "Kingdom of Germany," a prominent faction of the country's Reich Citizens movement, with four of its alleged ringleaders detained during raids across several German states. The organization, which reportedly has around 6,000 followers, has been accused of establishing a "counter-state" and building "criminal economic structures." Four German men, aged between 37 and 59, were taken into custody, including the group's founder, Peter Fitzek, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office said. Later on Tuesday, an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe ruled that one of the four suspects will be remanded in custody, with the other three - including Fitzek - yet to appear before the judge, according to a spokeswoman. Who are the Reich Citizens? Reich Citizens is an umbrella term used to describe a diffuse group of German residents who do not recognize the authority of the current system of government. The movement has no official structure and consists of several groupings, with "Kingdom of Germany" currently the most prominent. Reich Citizens - or Reichsbürger - are generally considered to belong to the extreme right, though the movements do not align completely. Many of the group's followers maintain that the German Reich proclaimed in 1871 still exists. They do not recognize modern-day democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines. Reich Citizens groups have engaged in violent and criminal activities and are being monitored by Germany's domestic intelligence agency as extremist organizations. In 2023, the agency estimated some 25,000 people were part of the movement. Most prominently, the alleged ringleaders of a group surrounding Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss - a descendant of a noble German family whose title carries no formal weight - were arrested in December 2022 over an alleged planned coup attempt. Crackdown on 'Kingdom of Germany' The "Kingdom of Germany" group was founded in 2012 by Fitzek, who was born in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. Announcing the ban, Interior Minister Dobrindt said that the group's members used anti-Semitic conspiracy theories to support their claimed sovereignty, adding that such behaviour cannot be tolerated in a state governed by the rule of law. According to the Interior Ministry, police have been conducting raids since early Tuesday on properties owned by key members, including in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. It also said the group has for years operated illegal banking and insurance businesses through affiliated entities. "The 'Kingdom of Germany' is characterized by a decidedly profit-oriented focus," the ministry said, adding that members have carried out unauthorized banking and insurance transactions for years via sub-organizations. Alleged ringleader Fitzek has been convicted several times including for driving without a licence and conducting illegal banking transactions. He was also sentenced by a district court to a total of eight months' imprisonment for intentional assault and insult. According to prosecutors, as the "supreme sovereign" Fitzek was responsible for determining the ideological orientation of the group and issued his own "laws." Two of the detained men served as his deputies while the fourth man was responsible for the group's finances. As part of the ban, authorities have confiscated the group's assets and shut down its online presence.
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner faces fresh charges - and more jail time
Christian Brueckner's release could be delayed after he was charged with offences against prison staff at the German jail where he is serving time for a rape sentence The prime suspect in Madeleine McCann 's disappearance faces up to another year behind bars after being charged with new crimes. Christian Brueckner is due in court in Germany next week accused of offences against prison guards behind bars, The Mirror can reveal. If convicted of the charges, the convicted paedophile faces having his hopes of being released from jail in September scuppered. It would be a dramatic boost to Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry, who feared seeing the 48-year-old walk free from prison. Brueckner, who is serving a seven-year term for rape, is listed to appear before magistrates in Lehrte, Germany, next Thursday. Sources say he is accused of aggressive behaviour and 'verbal assaults' towards prison staff. Prosecutors in Hildesheim say Brueckner committed the offences at Sehnde Prison, near Hannover. He is also accused of similar crimes at another jail in northern Germany, where he began his rape sentence. Brueckner will stand trial on those matters in Oldenburg in July, sources told the Mirror. Prosecutors investigating Madeleine's disappearance have been under massive pressure to charge him over the 2007 case. They previously admitted the 'clock is ticking' after he was cleared of unrelated sex crimes last year. But if Brueckner is given additional sentences for the new alleged crimes, it would give them some breathing space. Sources claim there are a string of other 'minor' charges being lined up against the German to stop him being freed. One insider told the Mirror: 'He is among the most dangerous sex offenders in Europe. German detectives will not let this sick b*****d out of prison without a fight.' Brueckner was dramatically named as prime suspect in Madeleine's disappearance in 2020. Police found children's clothing and snaps of youngsters the same as Madeleine hidden in a disused factory he owned. They also discovered a sat-nav which showed he had spent time at an isolated Algarve reservoir later searched by divers. He was living in an isolated farmhouse in Praia da Luz when she vanished from her parents' holiday apartment in May 2007. But despite the lengthy police investigation, detectives appear to be no closer to charging him with Madeleine's disappearance. Brueckner was cleared last October of a string of sex crimes he was accused of carrying out in Portugal. Prosecutors are awaiting the outcome of an appeal against those verdicts lodged in Germany's Federal Court of Justice. This evening prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters confirmed Brueckner is facing fresh charges. 'It's true there is another case against Christian B,' he said. 'It's not pending here, but with the public prosecutor's office in Hildesheim. Therefore I can't tell you anything about it.' 'Our appeal process is ongoing. It's not clear when a decision will be made," he added. Hildesheim prosecutor's office confirmed there is a pending court case against Brueckner. And Lehrte District Court confirmed Brueckner is listed to appear in court on May 15.
