Prosecutors say the suspect solicited cryptocurrency donations as rewards for “death sentences” targeting public figures.
A German national, reportedly linked to neo-Nazi groups, has been arrested on suspicion of running a darknet platform that incited the killing of politicians and other prominent individuals, according to media reports.
The 49-year-old suspect, identified as Martin S., who also holds Polish citizenship, was apprehended on Monday in Dortmund, where he resides with his family, and subsequently placed in pre-trial detention. He allegedly faces charges including financing terrorism and providing instructions for committing violent acts that threaten the state.
The suspect is accused of running a darknet website called ‘Assassination Politics,’ where he purportedly published personal data, “death sentences,” and hit lists containing the names of over 20 potential victims. These targets reportedly included high-ranking politicians like former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, as well as judges and prosecutors.
Prosecutors stated that he had been operating the platform anonymously since at least June 2025, posting instructions for making explosives and requesting cryptocurrency donations, which were later offered as bounties for assassinating targeted individuals.
Reports indicate that the platform also featured right-wing extremist, racist, and conspiracy theory-driven content.
Local media outlets reported that the suspect had connections with neo-Nazis and participated in far-right events. Some news sources, such as Bild, also claimed that he is considered a supporter of the Reich Citizens movement – a far-right, conspiracy-oriented group that disputes the legitimacy of the current German state. These adherents maintain that the historical German Reich still exists and refuse to acknowledge Germany’s government, parliament, laws, and courts. Many also reject obligations like paying taxes or fines.
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency estimates that approximately 25,000 individuals nationwide belong to the Reich Citizens movement and related groups, with some considered susceptible to violence.
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