A German court sentenced Daniela Klette, identified as a former member of the extreme-left Red Army Faction (RAF), to 13 years in prison for a series of armed robberies committed over three decades. The Verden regional court found Klette, 67, guilty of six counts of aggravated robbery and violating weapons laws.
Key Takeaways
A German court sentenced former Red Army Faction member Daniela Klette to 13 years for armed robberies. She evaded police for over three decades before her arrest in Berlin.
- Daniela Klette, 67, was found guilty of six counts of aggravated robbery and weapons possession
- Prosecutors allege she targeted cash transport vehicles with accomplices Burkhard Garweg and Ernst-Volker Staub
- Klette's supporters protested outside the court, chanting 'Freedom for Daniela'
- Police uncovered a cache of weapons, forged documents, wigs, gold, and €240,000 in her Berlin apartment
Klette was arrested in February 2024 after more than three decades on the run. She had been living under an assumed name in Berlin's Kreuzberg district. An investigative journalist using facial recognition software identified her from photographs at a cultural event, leading to her capture as reported by Reuters. Police found weapons, ammunition, forged identity documents, wigs, gold, and €240,000 in cash during a search of her apartment according to The Guardian.
The robberies took place between 1999 and 2016. Klette is accused of targeting cash transport vehicles and supermarkets with two accomplices, Burkhard Garweg and Ernst-Volker Staub, who remain at large as noted by BBC. Prosecutors allege the trio made off with over €2 million in their heists.
The Red Army Faction, also known as the Baader-Meinhof gang, was a militant group active from the 1970s to the early 1990s. They carried out a campaign of terror including attacks, kidnappings, bombings, and murders in what was then West Germany. The group sought to overthrow what they saw as a fascist capitalist state.
During her trial, Klette's supporters protested outside the courtroom holding signs reading 'Solidarity with Daniela.' Inside the courtroom, sympathizers booed the judges and chanted 'Freedom for Daniela' according to The Guardian. Klette's defense argued for her acquittal, stating there was no proof of her involvement in the robberies.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.