Trial opens of ‘esoteric’ wing of alleged German coup plotters

GP, celebrity chef and astrologer among defendants in third trial linked to far-right Reichsbürger

Eight alleged members of the German far-right Reichsbürger are to go on trial accused of a plot to violently overthrow the state, in the third in a row of similar court cases being held across the country.

The defendants, including a GP, a celebrity chef and an astrologer, are accused of serving as the plot’s leadership council and, prosecutors say, were set to become a cabinet in waiting if the group’s plan to storm the parliament building and overthrow the government had succeeded.

They are charged with membership of a terrorist organisation and preparing an act of high treason. The group had plans in place to kidnap Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and parade him on television in the hope of winning more followers to their cause, prosecutors say.