German authorities have arrested a man accused of running a darknet platform that called for the assassination of top political figures, including former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.
The suspect, identified only as Martin S., a 38-year-old German-Polish dual national, was detained late Monday in the western city of Dortmund, according to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. Public broadcaster ARD reported that he has alleged ties to the far-right Reich Citizens movement, a loose network of extremists who reject the legitimacy of the modern German state.
Prosecutors say Martin S. is suspected of terrorism financing, incitement to commit violent acts endangering the state, and disseminating personal data of public figures. They allege he used an anonymous darknet platform to post “lists of names, self-styled death sentences and instructions for building explosives,” alongside cryptocurrency fundraising appeals offering bounties for killings.
The platform reportedly contained sensitive personal data of high-profile politicians, including addresses and private information. While prosecutors have not confirmed specific targets, Spiegel magazine reported that the names of Merkel, Scholz, and several former ministers appeared among them.
Authorities say the site has been active since at least June and was designed to encourage attacks on “politicians, officials, and other figures in public life.” There is no evidence so far that Martin S. was operating under foreign direction.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters that investigators have been tracking the “right-wing extremist platform” for months, adding that the probe focuses on attempts to “raise money to finance attacks against public figures.” He declined to provide further operational details.
The case comes amid growing concerns about rising extremism and threats against public officials in Germany. Politicians across the spectrum have reported a surge in harassment, physical assaults, and online death threats amid an increasingly polarised political climate.
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