After arson attack on refugee home, two young Nazis charged with aiding and abetting murder

Two teenagers have been charged with aiding and abetting attempted murder following a failed arson attack on a refugee shelter in Schmölln, Germany. The charges were brought by the Federal Prosecutor's Office against two members of the far-right group "Last Defense Wave" (Letzte Verteidigungswelle). According to official statements, the pair allegedly assisted in the attack alongside two other individuals who had already received convictions earlier this year. The incident occurred early on January 5, 2025, when Joel F., aged 16, and Elias F., 17, reportedly traveled to the refugee accommodation in Schmölln with two other group members. They broke a window and attempted to fire pyrotechnic devices into the building using a fireworks battery, according to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. Elias F. was said to have secured the scene while Joel F. filmed the act. Despite these efforts, no fire broke out. Both suspects were arrested in June 2026. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, both youths are considered sufficiently suspicious of supporting a terrorist organization and providing assistance in attempted murder and attempted arson with fatal consequences. They hail from Thüringen and are described as “responsible young people” by prosecutors. This latest development follows further raids in March targeting ten additional members of the right-wing terror group, which had planned violent attacks against refugees and left-wing activists. Members of the group saw themselves as the “last resort for defending the German nation.” According to the Hamburg court verdict, the group planned and carried out attacks on leftist institutions and refugee shelters, and engaged in so-called “pedo-hunting,” a practice involving the pursuit of individuals they believed to be pedophiles. Their goal was to bring about the collapse of democratic order through acts of violence. The "Last Defense Wave" is one of several groups composed of young far-right extremists who initially gained attention on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Groups like "German Youth Forward" and "Young & Strong" similarly emerged online before rapidly radicalizing after their formation in April 2024. Various chat groups within the "Last Defense Wave" reached up to 200 members, fostering mutual encouragement and, in some cases, direct involvement in criminal activities. These groups spread conspiracy theories around the idea of a “great exchange,” a concept commonly found among extreme right-wing circles including the AfD and the Identitarian Movement. During the Hamburg trial, public access was restricted due to the age of some defendants, who were between 14 and 21 years old at the time of the alleged offenses. Some of the accused appeared in typical subculture attire during the public reading of the verdicts, which included sentences ranging from 1.5 to five years for attempted murder, arson, and membership in a terrorist organization. Most of the defendants remained largely passive as the judgments were announced. Members of the right-wing terror group had previously set fire to the Kulturhaus Kultberg in Altdöbern, Brandenburg, while the managing family slept in an adjacent complex. The family survived by chance. Another planned attack on a refugee shelter in Senftenberg was thwarted when the group apparently acquired grenade-like devices from the Czech Republic. This attack was prevented following the dismantling of the group in May 2025. Investigations by the federal prosecutors primarily focus on the core leadership and directly involved perpetrators. Security officials believe there will be no further crimes committed by this group since it has been effectively dismantled. According to security circles, the number of members in the terrorist organization does not equate to the total number of individuals associated with it.