A court in Luxembourg has handed down a lengthy prison sentence to a young neo-Nazi involved in weapons offences, terrorist planning, and extremist activities.
A young neo-Nazi who faced trial in July has been sentenced to eight years in prison, six of which are suspended. In addition, he received a five-year suspended probation, conditional on his participation in a deradicalisation programme run by respect.lu. He must submit a certificate every six months confirming his participation.
The prosecution had sought a 12-year sentence, charging him with violations of the weapons law, planning terrorist attacks, membership in a terrorist organisation, recruitment, and training for the group.
In early 2020, police in Strassen conducted a search at the home of the then 18-year-old man of Swedish origin. In the basement, they discovered a chemistry lab equipped to the extent that it would have required a Commodo Class 1 licence.
The search uncovered not only active substances such as nitroglycerin and TATP but also chlorine tablets, which could have been used to produce chlorine gas. Additional materials for making explosives were also found. Experts at the trial stated that the materials could have been used to produce up to 1kg of explosives.
Police also discovered a package bomb filled with nails, intended for a Swedish production company whose promotional films for the Scandinavian airline SAS had been found offensive by the man and his friends. He had also ordered a storm rifle via the Darknet. Together with an online acquaintance, he had drawn up plans to cause mass panic at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam using a chlorine gas attack.
The young man was also a member of the terrorist organisation 'The Base'. During the trial, the investigating officer played a recording from an interview, describing 'The Base' as a "leaderless resistance group" and a gathering point for individuals with various hate ideologies rooted in National Socialism.
Members seek to undermine the Western societal system through violent acts and aim to trigger a race war to establish a white ethnostate.
He was also a member of the 'Green Brigade', a group combining far-right ideology with animal rights activism – so-called 'eco-fascists'. In 2019, he and an accomplice set fire to an abandoned mink farm. In 2021, he was sentenced to prison with full suspension and a fine for arson.
During the trial, the young man – now studying chemistry in Sweden – claimed that while he still held conservative views, he was no longer radical. He may appeal the verdict in a higher court.
