German Court Sentences Right-Wing Terror Cell That Torched Cultural Centre

Germany's Oberlandesgericht (Higher Regional Court) in Hamburg handed down prison sentences to seven members and one supporter of the far-right terrorist organisation "Letzte Verteidigungswelle" (Last Defence Wave) on Wednesday. The group sought to trigger the collapse of the German political system through violence against migrants and perceived political enemies.

Sentences handed down under juvenile law

Because most defendants were minors at the time of the crimes, the court applied juvenile criminal law. Sentences ranged from 18 months to five years in prison. The 18-month sentence for the youngest defendant was suspended.

• 7 members + 1 supporter convicted
• Sentences: 18 months (suspended) to 5 years under juvenile law
• Proceedings largely held behind closed doors due to defendants' youth

Arson in Altdöbern and foiled attacks

In October 2024, the group carried out an arson attack on a cultural centre in Altdöbern, Brandenburg — which they mistakenly believed was a left-wing gathering place. The building, used for all community events in the 2,300-resident town, burned completely to the ground. Peter Winzer, the town's Social Democrat mayor, described it as "an absolute catastrophe."

Two further attempted attacks on refugee shelters — in Senftenberg (Brandenburg) and Schmölln (Thuringia) in early 2025 — were foiled, with investigators noting only chance prevented casualties.

An undercover journalist broke the case

Remarkably, the group was exposed by a German journalist from Stern magazine and broadcaster RTL who infiltrated the cell undercover. After learning of the Senftenberg attack plan, the journalist alerted German police. The first arrest followed in February 2025, with subsequent raids in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hesse, and Brandenburg netting further suspects.

"We see alarming continuities — some of these young perpetrators have family ties to far-right networks from the 1990s." — Jan Redmann, Brandenburg Interior Minister

Brandenburg's CDU Interior Minister Jan Redmann expressed particular shock at how rapidly very young people radicalise and organise online. Federal prosecutors separately searched premises of ten further suspects; two more youths were arrested in Thuringia at the end of June.