Mysterious escape of the RAF terrorists: Berlin in the investigators' crosshairs!

Mysterious escape of the RAF terrorists: Berlin in the investigators' crosshairs!

The situation in Berlin remains tense as the search for two former members of the Red Army Faction (RAF) continues. Ernst-Volker Staub (71) and Burkhard Garweg (56) are still untraceable, although the police are intensively searching for clues. Berlin Live reports that the investigation has already been expanded to Brandenburg, where the RAF has often found refuge in the past. What is particularly striking is that Garweg most recently lived in a trailer in Friedrichshain, not far from the Federal Criminal Police Office. 

In the past few days, the Berlin police have searched several buildings in the districts of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Schöneberg and Reinickendorf, among others RBB24 reported. Laptops, cell phones and other data carriers were seized in order to find possible clues to the people they were looking for. Despite these measures, there is still no new information about the whereabouts of those wanted. An arrest warrant has been issued against a 38-year-old woman who is suspected of aiding and abetting the former terrorists.

Investigations and support network

The searches and extensive investigations are the result of the arrest of Daniela Klette, a suspected accomplice who was caught in Kreuzberg in February 2024. Her arrest has shed further light on the left-wing extremist scene, where investigators suspect that there are supporters for Staub and Garweg. There is speculation that a Berlin supporter may have hidden weapons or equipment linked to the former RAF terrorists. These clues suggest that existing networks may still be active.

The involvement of the two ex-terrorists goes back to the late 1990s, when they allegedly committed numerous robberies to finance themselves. These attacks are not without explosiveness: Garweg and Staub are also accused of terrorist attacks, although some offenses may have expired. Probably an irony of fate: men who were mistakenly suspected of being Garweg have recently been arrested while he remains underground.

Garweg's voices from the shadows

Garweg spoke out from the underground and explained his point of view in an online message. He defended his actions and sharply criticized the police and the public prosecutor's office. He sees this persecution as politically motivated and systematic. Surprising, but not necessarily shocking: Garweg showed no remorse and firmly rejected the accusations of self-enrichment and willingness to use violence. According to him, the term “terrorist” is just a tool in the hands of those who have power.

The fall of the RAF has a serious historical dimension for the Federal Republic of Germany. The Red Army Faction, founded in the 1970s by prominent figures such as Ulrike Meinhof and Andreas Baader, once carried out a series of actions that kept the country on tenterhooks. From bank robberies to violent confrontations with the police, the list of activities is long. Even though the RAF officially announced its dissolution in 1998, the shadows of this turbulent past still seem to linger today. You can read more about the historical background of the RAF in the comprehensive information Wikipedia.

Overall, Berlin remains an exciting but also controversial terrain when it comes to the legacy of the RAF and its remnants in today's society. The investigation remains ongoing and the police will do everything they can to shed light on the matter. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and whether Staub and Garweg will ever be caught.