German police arrest Romanian man accused of plotting neo-Nazi coup and 'terror war' to overthrow Romanian state
German authorities detained Nichita P., a young Romanian man, for allegedly trying to build a far-right terrorist group aimed at toppling the Romanian government and imposing a Nazi-style regime.
Arrest and charges
German police arrested Nichita P. on Tuesday in the Enz district of Baden‑Württemberg, with support from officers in Rhineland‑Palatinate. Federal prosecutors accuse him of attempting to found and lead a foreign terrorist organization (Section 129a of the German Criminal Code) and of preparing a serious act of state‑endangering violence (Section 89a). At the time of the alleged offenses, he was between 18 and 20 years old and is treated as a "young adult" under German youth court law.
Recruitment and online activities
Since early 2023, the suspect operated two channels on a messaging service from Germany to recruit members, specifically targeting young Romanians. Through these channels, he incited subscribers to commit a range of crimes: spraying far‑right graffiti, encouraging girls to self‑harm, carrying out arson attacks on buildings used by migrants and LGBTQ+ people, and killing those he labelled "subhuman".
Weapons instructions and violent plans
Prosecutors say Nichita P. published detailed instructions on the channels for manufacturing poisons, explosives, Molotov cocktails, and car bombs. The investigation found his aim was to trigger a "terror war" in Romania, cause the collapse of the current state, and establish a new order modelled on National Socialism.
Court appearance
The arrested man was due to appear before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe later on 30 June. The judge will decide on the formal issuance of an arrest warrant and possible pre‑trial detention.
