5 Jailed Over United Patriots Plot to Overthrow German Government

The trial heard the plotters intended to create ‘conditions similar to civil war’ and also planned to kidnap Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

Two vans, each carrying defendants, arrive before the start of the trial of members of the United Patriots group at the Higher Regional Court in Koblenz, Germany, on May 17, 2023. Sebastian Gollnow/DPA via AP

Five members of the terrorist organization United Patriots were convicted on Thursday of plotting to overthrow the German government and kidnap the former health minister.

Four members, arrested in April 2022, were sentenced to between five years and nine months and eight years by the Koblenz Higher Regional Court. A fifth defendant received a sentence of two years and 10 months.