Ex-Red Army Faction militant faces trial for 13 robberies and attempted murder after 35 years on the run
Daniela Klette, a former member of the Red Army Faction (RAF), is facing trial for 13 armed robberies and an attempted murder. After spending three and a half decades underground, she was arrested in February 2024. Prosecutors are now pushing for a 15-year prison sentence.
Klette’s trial at Verden Regional Court centres on a string of violent crimes, including a 2015 incident in Stuhr where shots were fired at a cash transporter. She dismisses the attempted murder charge as 'completely baseless' but admits the robberies funded her life in hiding. The total stolen amount across the 13 heists is alleged to be €2.7 million.
During her arrest, police uncovered a stash of weapons in her apartment. Items included a dummy anti-tank weapon, multiple firearms, ammunition, and €240,000 in cash. Investigators also found detailed sketches of cash-transport routes and surveilled supermarkets, suggesting careful planning. Klette remains defiant, still embracing the RAF’s ideology of class struggle. She has spoken openly about her desire to dismantle imperialism, capitalism, and patriarchal structures. Yet, she refuses to discuss her specific role in the group before her capture. The verdict in her current trial is expected on May 27. Regardless of the outcome, she may face a second trial for additional attempted murder charges.
Klette has already spent two years in custody since her arrest. The evidence against her includes weapons, cash, and detailed robbery plans. If convicted, she could serve a lengthy prison term, marking the end of a long era for one of the RAF’s last known members.
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