Leftist terrorist paroled

last updated 8 January 2015

Berlin

A German court this week approved the release of one of the leaders of the far-left terrorist group Red Army Faction, also known as the Baader-Meinhof gang. Brigitte Mohnhaupt was facing five life sentences for her involvement in the murders of several German business leaders in the 1970s. She has served 24 years. German politicians are divided over the decision to parole Mohnhaupt, who, unlike some other Red Army members already paroled, has not expressed remorse. But many former government ministers said she has served long enough, especially compared with other notorious prisoners. Albert Speer, the only Nazi from Hitler’s inner circle to survive the war and serve prison time, was released after 20 years.