German court sentences ex-RAF militant Daniela Klette to 13 years for armed robberies
A court in Verden convicted the 67-year-old of six counts of aggravated robbery committed between 1999 and 2016 while she lived in hiding; her two alleged accomplices remain fugitives.
Verdict and charges
The Verden regional court sentenced Daniela Klette, a former member of the left‑wing extremist Red Army Faction (RAF), to 13 years in prison on Wednesday for a series of armed robberies. The 67‑year‑old was convicted of six counts of aggravated robbery, along with kidnapping for ransom and weapons violations. The robberies, carried out between 1999 and 2016, were committed after the RAF's dissolution and were aimed at financing the clandestine lives of Klette and her accomplices. Prosecutors had demanded a 15‑year sentence, while the defense sought an acquittal or suspended sentence.
They carried out their robberies with a division of labour and in a highly conspiratorial manner.
Life underground and the robberies
Klette evaded capture for over 30 years, living under false identities in Berlin's Kreuzberg district. She was arrested in February 2024 after an investigative journalist used facial recognition software to track her down. Police found a cache of weapons, a fake bazooka, forged documents, wigs, gold bars, and tens of thousands of euros in cash in her apartment. She had integrated into local life, even practicing capoeira and traveling to Brazil with false papers.
Together with Burkhard Garweg, 57, and Ernst‑Volker Staub, 72, she targeted cash transport vehicles and supermarkets across Lower Saxony and North Rhine‑Westphalia. The trio reportedly netted over €2 million. Investigators found DNA from both men in Klette's flat, including on an electric toothbrush; Garweg and Staub remain at large.
Trial, appeal, and courtroom drama
The 14‑month trial was held under tight security in a converted riding hall in Eitze, costing €3.6 million. When the verdict was read, sympathizers in the public gallery erupted in boos and chants of "freedom for Daniela," raising clenched fists. Klette appeared calm but smiled and raised her own fist in response. The court also ordered the seizure of numerous items, including weapons and cash.
Immediately after the verdict, Klette's defense attorney Lukas Theune announced an appeal to the Federal Court of Justice, arguing that DNA evidence was inadequately evaluated and the proceedings were unfair.
In our opinion, the conditions for a fair, constitutional procedure were not consistently met.
The RAF's violent legacy and the hunt for justice
The Red Army Faction, also known as the Baader‑Meinhof group, killed 34 people in bombings, kidnappings, and assassinations between 1970 and 1991 before officially disbanding in 1998. The so‑called third generation, to which Klette belonged, was responsible for murders of prominent business leaders and officials that remain unsolved. German authorities insist that these cold cases must still be pursued, and the verdict against Klette is seen as a step toward full accountability.
Every perpetrator must first be found and brought before a court.
Timeline of events
- Red Army Faction begins bombing, kidnapping, and assassination campaign
- Last RAF killing; group kills 34 people in total
- RAF announces dissolution
- Klette and accomplices begin series of armed robberies
- Robberies end; trio goes into deeper hiding
- Klette arrested in Berlin after facial recognition tip
- Trial begins in Verden under tight security
- Court sentences Klette to 13 years in prison
