Franco Albrecht, 32, lived a double life for more than a year posing as a refugee
He applied dark make-up and travelled hundreds of miles to an asylum centre
Prosecutors allege Albrecht stole ammo from his base and was plotting attack
They say he wanted wanted to foment a civil war against Angela Merkel
Albrecht denies the charges and says he wanted to expose the flawed system
By Reuters Staff
3 Min Read
BERLIN (Reuters) -A young German army officer went on trial on Thursday accused of planning to attack one or more politicians while posing as an Syrian asylum seeker to try to whip up anger against migrants.
Slideshow ( 3 images )
In a case that rattled the government in Berlin when it first came to light, the man, identified as Franco A., is accused of posing under a false identity in 2017 and planning an attack he hoped would be blamed on refugees and migrants.
The prosecution says Franco A. also stole ammunition from the German military, with former justice and current Foreign Minister Heiko Maas or the parliament’s Vice-President Claudia Roth seen as possible targets of an attack.
German refugee soldier in dock over far-right attack plot
Issued on:
20/05/2021 - 12:40 Franco Albrecht, 32, stands accused of plotting a serious act of violence that endangers the state . He is also charged with fraud and illegally possessing weapons and explosives Boris Roessler POOL/AFP/File 4 min
Frankfurt (AFP)
The trial of a German soldier who allegedly plotted to attack prominent politicians while posing as a Syrian refugee began on Thursday in a bizarre case fuelling concerns over right-wing extremism.
Franco Albrecht, 32, stands accused of plotting a serious act of violence that endangers the state . He is also charged with fraud and illegally possessing weapons and explosives.