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Franco A. in court in Frankfurt am Main: 23 badges with swastikas
Photo: ARNE DEDERT / AFP
Almost two weeks ago, 23 badges with swastikas were confiscated from Bundeswehr officer Franco A., who is suspected of being a terrorist.
This was announced by the presiding judge, Christoph Koller, on Thursday at the beginning of the hearing against the man before the Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt am Main.
Other items were also secured from Franco A. and should be examined by the investigators, said the judge.
According to the information, these included seven slashing and stabbing weapons, also machetes and 21 mobile phones, more than 50 unused prepaid cards and a fake vaccination card.
"None of that sounds so good," said the judge.
"This will entail further proceedings." The extent to which these could have an impact on the ongoing proceedings has not yet been determined.
One of A's defense attorneys requested that his appointment as public defender be revoked.
A. considers his line of defense to be unacceptable, so that he can no longer fulfill his task.
He sees his influence as significantly limited.
No decision has yet been made on the application.
Fake identity as a Syrian refugee
The Bundeswehr officer has to answer for the preparation of a serious criminal offense endangering the state.
The federal prosecutor accuses A. of having planned attacks on politicians.
The officer also assumed a false identity as a Syrian refugee - from the point of view of the prosecutors, in order to direct suspicion against refugees after an attack and to shake confidence in asylum policy.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office sees a nationalist attitude as a motive.
The Bundeswehr soldier largely denies the allegations, but admits that he was in possession of several weapons, which he kept at his place of work, among other things.
He has not yet given any information about her whereabouts.
A. was arrested at Vienna Airport in February 2017 when he tried to get a loaded pistol from a hiding place in an airport toilet.
He was released in November 2017, arrested again ten days ago and is now in custody again.
ptz/dpa/AFP
