Full Breakdown
German Court Sentences Former Red Army Faction Member to 13 Years for Armed Robberies
5/27/2026, 11:00:30 PM
Core Event: 13-Year Prison Term for Decades-Long Heists
On 27 May 2026 the Verden Regional Court sentenced former Red Army Faction member Daniela Klette, 67, to 13 years for six counts of aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and weapons violations committed between 1999 and 2016. The verdict concluded a 14-month trial that began in March 2025 and was held under tight security.
Background & Context: RAF Legacy and Klette’s Third-Generation Role
The Red Army Faction (RAF), aka the Baader-Meinhof Gang, carried out kidnappings, bombings and murders from the 1970s until its 1998 dissolution, claiming 34 deaths. Klette belonged to its third generation and evaded capture after the group disbanded.
Timeline of the Criminal Enterprise and Legal Proceedings
- 1999 – First documented robbery in Duisburg targeting a cash-transport vehicle.
- June 2015 – Attempted robbery of a cash van near Bremen; shots were fired but the loot escaped.
- February 2024 – Klette arrested in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district under the alias “Claudia Ivone.”
- 27 May 2026 – Verdict and 13-year sentence issued.
Data & Statistics: Scale of the Heists and Seized Evidence
Prosecutors say the robberies yielded over €2 million; investigators recovered €240,000 in cash, gold, wigs and forged IDs. Seized weapons included a Kalashnikov rifle, a dummy RPG launcher and a realistic bazooka. DNA linked Burkhard Garweg and Ernst-Volker Staub, who remain at large.
Official Statements & Responses
Court spokesperson Ahmad Mohamad said the crimes were meticulously planned and executed. Judge Lars Engelke described the robberies as organized with a clear division of labour and a conspiratorial approach. Prosecutors sought a 15-year term; defence lawyer Lukas Theune argued the evidence did not prove Klette’s participation.
Criticism & Opposition
Supporters in the gallery shouted “Freedom for Daniela!” and booed the sentence. The defence maintained that prosecutors had not linked Klette directly to the robberies, citing a lack of forensic proof beyond weapons possession.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the loot amount (€2 million vs. €2.4 million) and on the number of robberies (six counts versus eight incidents, with five not pursued). The 2015 cash-van attack was classified as attempted aggravated robbery, not attempted murder.
Verbatim Quotes
- “From the outset, the court emphasised that any terrorist background or political motives on the part of the defendant were of no significance whatsoever in relation to the robberies in question,” — Ahmad Mohamad, court spokesperson
- “They carried out their robberies with a division of labour and in a highly conspiratorial manner,” — Judge Lars Engelke
- “They emphasized in court that there was no evidence that Klette was involved in the robberies.” — Lukas Theune, defence attorney
- “Addressing the court last year, Klette defiantly vowed to continue the struggle against "capitalism and patriarchy".” — Daniela Klette (court statement)
What’s Next
German authorities continue to search for Garweg and Staub. Separate proceedings in Frankfurt will address Klette’s alleged involvement in three RAF attacks from the early 1990s. The case underscores ongoing challenges in tracking former political militants who transition to financially motivated crime.
