Accused German RAF militant sentenced to 13 years

A German court has sentenced Daniela Klette, identified as a former member of the Red Army Faction (RAF), to 13 years in prison for her involvement in a series of armed robberies. The crimes occurred over an extended period, from 1999 to 2016.

Klette, aged 67, had been living in hiding for more than three decades before her arrest in 2024. She was located in Berlin by an investigative journalist who utilized facial recognition software to identify her while she was living under an assumed name. Her apprehension marked a significant development in the long-standing efforts to bring former RAF members to justice.

Prosecutors stated that Klette belonged to the group's "third generation." The Red Army Faction, originating from the leftist protest movements of the 1960s, was known for its violent activities, including kidnappings and murders, aiming to overthrow what it perceived as a fascist capitalist state. The group officially declared an end to its "urban guerrilla warfare" in 1998, but individual members remained fugitives for many years.

Authorities are continuing their search for two other individuals suspected of being Klette's accomplices: Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, also believed to be former members of the Red Army Faction. The group was responsible for the deaths of approximately 34 people between 1970 and 1991.