A soldier of the German armed forces, who was detained in Munich after publishing a video on the Internet with threats against the country’s authorities due to government measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, was released again. According to a police spokesman on Friday, December 31, the prosecutor’s office of the city of Traunstein sees no reason for his further detention.
The man is not expected to pose a serious danger. However, he is under investigation on suspicion of public incitement to commit crimes. The police and the prosecutor’s office are “in close contact” with the Bundeswehr, which is also studying the case.
The arrest of the serviceman became known a few hours earlier. “The Munich police officers have arrested a Bundeswehr soldier in the center of Munich, suspected of publicly inciting to commit crimes,” the police department of southern Upper Bavaria said on Twitter on Thursday evening, December 30.
According to the department, further consideration of the case will be taken by the criminal police unit in Rosenheim, which took the suspect into custody.
The German Defense Ministry previously released a statement condemning the video, which was widely disseminated on social networks. “Currently, a video of the alleged soldier is circulating on the network, which is often shared here (on Twitter – Ed.). It contains threats against the rule of law that are unacceptable. The consequences of this are already being verified, “the defense ministry said in a statement.
Ultimatum over compulsory vaccination
In a video posted on the Internet, about a minute long, a man in military uniform, calling himself Oberfeldwebel, demands the lifting of restrictions imposed by the German government in connection with the spread of coronavirus, as well as the mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 for medical workers and military personnel. “This is a warning,” he said, giving the authorities time “until tomorrow” to voice their position. The text below the video says that “the soldiers are ready for dialogue until 4:00 pm tomorrow.”
At the same time, the man did not explain what day was meant or what the threats were. The video was allegedly released on Wednesday around midnight local time.
German Defense Minister: Bundeswehr needs sane people
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht later tweeted: “The Bundeswehr needs sensible and honest people who stand firm on the foundation of our Basic Law. Anyone who does not share this has no place in our Bundeswehr!”
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