Daniela Klette, the last known female member of the infamous Baader-Meinhof group, has found herself back in the spotlight as she stands trial in Celle, Germany. Accused of 14 serious criminal offences, including armed robbery and attempted murder, her trials span three decades during which she lived anonymously among unsuspecting neighbours—a curious figure shrouded in mystery.
Arrested last February in her Berlin home, Klette, now 66, led a seemingly ordinary life while concealing the weighty history of her radical past. In her flat, authorities discovered a trove of weapons, including an anti-tank grenade and a Kalashnikov, signalling her deep connections to the radical left and the Baader-Meinhof gang’s violent legacy.
The Baader-Meinhof group, responsible for a series of shocking terrorist incidents in the 70s and 80s, is resurfacing in Klette’s trial. The prosecution aims to detail her alleged participation in a string of armed robberies, while other allegations, including her involvement in terrorist attacks on Deutsche Bank, the US embassy, and a prison, are set for future hearings.
While Klette’s current trial focuses on robberies committed while she was in hiding, fears for security prompted a shift to the high-security Celle upper regional court. Outside the court, around 50 supporters from far-left factions expressed solidarity with her on the trial’s opening day, revealing the lingering debate around her radical past.
Among the accusations is a bold 2015 attempt to rob an armoured car for €1 million in Bremen, during which Klette reportedly wielded a non-functional anti-tank gun. This arrest marks a dramatic moment—the fallout includes her frantic messages attempting to alert her accomplice, Burkhard Garweg.
Klette’s legal team argues that the trial obscures her charges with vague links to the RAF’s broader terror narrative. Lawyer Ulrich von Klinggräff asserts that while Klette might be connected to the alleged robberies, evidence linking her directly to any crime scenes is non-existent, emphasising Klette’s anxious yet resolute approach to the unfolding trial. Hearings are projected to span until the year’s end, as the intricacies of her case unfold.
Daniela Klette, a former member of the Baader-Meinhof group, stands trial in Celle, Germany, for 14 criminal offences, including armed robbery and attempted murder. Arrested last February, she led a double life, blending into her community while hiding her past. The trial will examine her alleged involvement in a series of robberies, alongside broader accusations of terrorism still to be addressed.
The trial of Daniela Klette serves as a reminder of the shadows cast by the Baader-Meinhof gang on contemporary society. As Klette faces serious charges for her alleged involvement in a series of robberies, the complexities of her radical history intertwine with the quest for justice. With scheduled hearings trailing into the future, the narrative of this notorious figure continues to captivate a new generation, evoking questions about crime, identity, and the past’s insistent grip on the present.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
