Germany: Trial begins of 12 suspected members of ultra-right terrorist group

Deutsche-Presse Agentur (DPA) has reported that on 14 April the trial began in Stuttgart, Germany of 12 suspected members and supporters of an ultra-right terrorist group that called itself "Gruppe S"; according to the indictment, its members wanted to murder Muslims and were plotting to incite a civil war. They were allegedly well-connected with the right-wing extremist scene and some had close contacts with arms dealers, according to the opening arguments of the prosecutor at the High Court in Stuttgart. 

Allegedly, the defendants have held national socialist and xenophobic world views as well as hatred for Jews and Muslims. The accused are said to have spoken of Jews and Muslims as "cockroaches" and "human garbage". 

According to the indictiment, group members connected through online chats and wanted to acquire weapons in order to attack mosques. Prosecutors claim the group also had its sights on politicians and on persons who do not share their convictions. 

The alleged leader of the group, a Werner S. from Augsburg in the state of Bavaria, attempted to win over leading representatives of the ultra-right scene to the organization, according to the indictment, because he believed they had great mobilizing potential. The defendants were arrested on 14 February 2020. 

Eleven of them have been in preliminary custody ever since, while one has been allowed to remain at large. The extensive trial will involve dozens of witnesses and is predicted to last until at least mid-2022.