A German court has sentenced former Red Army Faction member Daniela Klette to 13 years in prison for aggravated robberies [1].
The ruling marks a significant legal conclusion for one of the last remaining members of the militant group who lived underground for decades. The case highlights the long-term pursuit of former terrorists by German authorities even after the group's official dissolution.
The Regional Court of Verden in Lower Saxony handed down the sentence in the spring of 2024 [5]. Klette, who is 67 years old [2], was convicted of carrying out a series of particularly severe robberies to fund her life in hiding [3].
Reports on the exact number of crimes vary between sources. According to Tagesschau, Klette was convicted in six cases of aggravated robbery [3]. However, taz reported that the convictions covered eight robberies [4]. These crimes took place over a 17-year period between 1999 and 2016 [5].
The proceedings drew significant attention, including from supporters of the former militant. Sarina Sprengel said, "Many followers jumped up and shouted loudly" [6].
The court determined that the robberies were committed after the Red Army Faction had already been dissolved, as a means of sustaining Klette's clandestine existence. The 13-year sentence reflects the severity of the robberies, and the nature of the crimes committed during her time in the underground [1].
“Daniela Klette was sentenced to 13 years in prison for aggravated robberies.”
This conviction underscores the German judiciary's commitment to prosecuting the remnants of the Red Army Faction (RAF) regardless of the time elapsed. By focusing on criminal activities committed after the group's formal end, the state is able to secure long prison terms for former militants who avoided capture during the height of the group's political violence, effectively closing a chapter of Cold War-era domestic terrorism through the lens of modern criminal law.
