Franco Albrecht is German BundeswehrLeutnant in the Franco-German Brigade. He is suspected of carrying out one or more 'false flag' attacks in the Day X plot — a domesticright-wing terror plot. His case led to investigations about a nation-wide army-based Neonazi network in Germany. Franco Albrecht, soldier Maximilian T., student Mathias F. and eleven other persons were suspected members of the group. Franco Albrecht's case sparked a public debate about right-wing extremist attitudes in the recent Bundeswehr and their traditions in relation to the Wehrmacht. In November 2017 all three known suspects had to be released due to lack of urgent legal suspicion.
Background
Franco Albrecht was a professional soldier in the Franco-German Brigade. He studied since September 2009 at military Universities in Germany and the French École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr at Bretagne. There he had written his master's thesis, “political change and subversion strategy” at the French university in 2014. This thesis contains far-right thinking.
Planned attack
Franco Albrecht is accused of planning to carry out right wing motivated attacks against political opponents and false flag actions against asylum seekers to undermine the refugee policy of the German government. He successfully was recognized as an Syrian refugee in an asylum procedure. Although he does not speak Arabic, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees granted him limited protection following a hearing in French at the end of 2016. According to the German Prosecutor General Albrecht was determined to carry out an act of domestic terrorism by assassinating the head of the Amadeu Antonio FoundationAnetta Kahane. According to the prosecution, his intent is proven by Albrecht scouting the location of the Amadeu Antonio Foundation in Berlin, and soon after acquiring a scope and training with it and his rifle. Albrecht is suspected of wanting to frame the intended attack on the refugee whose identity he had faked. Albrecht was detected with an illegally obtained pistol at Vienna Airport in February 2017. On April 26, 2017, Lieutenant Franco Albrecht was taken in custody at a command course at the United Nations Training Center of the Bundeswehr in Hammelburg.
Legal investigation
The Federal Prosecutor's Office alleged that he planned a right wing terrorist attack under a false flag, which would be charged to a fictional refugee. The German Federal Prosecutor's Office filed charges against Franco Albrecht in December 2017. He was accused of "preparing a serious, state-damaging act of violence" at the Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt am Main. Albrecht was released from custody at the end of November 2017. The Federal Court of Justice ordered "Franco A." released, ruling that "the results so far of the investigation do not substantiate the strong suspicion that a serious act threatening the state was in preparation" and downloaded the main trial to the district court Darmstadt. In addition, two other people were arrested in connection with the alleged attack plans, including the Bundeswehr soldier Maximilian T.. Maximilian T. is member of the right-wing party Alternative for Germany. In November 2017, all suspects were released due to lack of evidence. In November 2019 the Federal Court of Justice has instructed the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt, to open a process against Franco Albrecht on the accused of "preparing a serious, state-damaging act of violence".
