Former Red Army Faction (RAF) member Daniela Klette, wanted for attempted murder and aggravated robbery, lived a seemingly quiet life in Berlin. She was apprehended in late February, where the authorities discovered tens of thousands of euros in cash and several weapons in her possession, including a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a replica rocket launcher.
Klette, 65, had been evading capture for over 30 years for her involvement in crimes linked to the left-wing militant group RAF, formerly known as the Baader Meinhof group. The group carried out political actions through the kidnapping or assassination of prominent figures in the business and industrial sectors.
Despite the RAF’s notoriety fading over time, their activities are still the subject of interest for many in Germany. Film and television producers continue to create high-budget dramas and documentaries that recount the turbulent events of the 1980s and 90s, including the assassinations that took place.
Petra Terhoeven, an expert in the history of political violence, emphasizes the lasting impact of the RAF on Germany’s collective memory. She notes a recent surge in productions focusing on key figures like Alfred Herrhausen, the head of Deutsche Bank, and Detlev Rohwedder, the head of the Treuhandanstalt.
The capture of Daniela Klette has reopened discussions about unsolved murders from the 1980s, and there is speculation that she may possess information related to these cases. Podcasters in Berlin, Undone, were involved in the search for Klette, deploying facial recognition technology to identify her before her arrest.
As prosecutors sift through evidence and consider potential charges against Klette, experts like Petra Terhoeven remain skeptical about the possibility of her cooperation, citing a culture of secrecy among former RAF members. The secrecy surrounding the group’s activities adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation into Klette’s past actions.
