**Five Far-Right Extremists Sentenced for Kidnapping Plot Against German Minister**

The court ruling underscores the continuing threat posed by extremist groups in Germany, with plans that included violent sabotage.

Five members of a far-right faction in Germany have been sentenced for their audacious plot to abduct the country's Health Minister, Karl Lauterbach, in a bid to instigate a coup against the government. The Koblenz higher regional court sentenced four of the group’s leaders, aged between 46 and 58, to jail terms ranging from five years and nine months to eight years. A fifth member, a 77-year-old woman, received a sentence of two years and ten months after a protracted trial lasting nearly two years.

The group was described as a "terrorist organization" and targeted Lauterbach largely due to his staunch advocacy for strict health measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. In a chilling plot uncovered by authorities, they had aimed to not only kidnap Lauterbach but also to harm his bodyguards if needed. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser labeled the group’s actions as posing a significant threat to national security, stating, "The violent plans have shown an enormous threat."

This extremist group, associated with the “Citizens of the Reich,” believes in the continued existence of the German Empire that dissolved in 1918. The royalist faction was reportedly influenced by the QAnon conspiracy theory, which has found followers among some factions in the United States. The alleged leader of the group, Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, a German aristocrat, has drawn attention to the reach of these dangerous ideologies.

In response to the verdict, Minister Lauterbach expressed gratitude towards law enforcement's decisive actions, affirming that the state is prepared to protect itself from violent conspiracies. Faeser reiterated the seriousness with which authorities regard threats from the “Citizens of the Reich” and emphasized the commitment to safeguarding democracy amidst rising extremism. The sentencing reflects ongoing efforts to confront and dismantle far-right networks that challenge the legitimacy of Germany’s modern democratic state.