Eight people have been found guilty of numerous crimes including deliberate attacks on refugee shelters in Germany. After a yearlong trial, the legal points hinged on the very nature of the group’s structure and intent.
The Dresden Higher Regional Court on Wednesday found seven men and one woman who formed the “Freital Group” guilty of forming a terror group, attempted murder and aiding and abetting crimes, including attacks on refugees shelters and political opponents.
The court handed out prison sentences ranging from four to 10 years. The Freital Group’s leaders, identified as Timo S. and Patrick F. in accordance with German press code, received 10 and nine-and-a-half year sentences, respectively. The courtroom in the eastern German state of Saxony was constructed in the high-security state penitentiary in Dresden.
Group’s goal was to create ‘a climate of fear’
In his closing arguments, Senior Federal Prosecutor Jörn Hausschild said he was convinced that the group’s crimes were based on xenophobic, right-wing extremist, and Nazi ideology. The eight individuals, he claimed, operated in varying capacities with the aim of creating “a climate of fear.”
Members of the group, however, saw themselves as protecting the German people from refugees, immigrants and those with different political views. The accused are also convinced that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a traitor to the German people. Members discussed and planned who would “get it next” in so-called dark chats online and via telephone.
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