Romanian arrested for planning to overthrow government and install Nazi-like regime

A Romanian was arrested in Germany today on suspicion of plotting to overthrow his country’s government and install a Nazi-inspired regime, prosecutors say.

The suspect, named only as Nichita P., is accused of “having attempted, as a ringleader, to establish a foreign terrorist organization,” the prosecutors say in a statement.

“From early 2023, Nichita P. sought to establish a right-wing extremist group that was to unleash a ‘war of terror’ in Romania and contribute to the downfall of the Romanian state and the creation of a new state modeled on National Socialism,” they say.

In order to recruit members, Nichita P. allegedly operated two channels on a messenger service from Germany, aimed in particular at young Romanians.

Through these, he urged followers to kill people he considered “subhumans,” carry out arson attacks on buildings used by migrants or persons from the LGBTQ community, and spray graffiti with right-wing extremist symbols.

He also allegedly published instructions on how to produce poisons and explosives as well as how to make Molotov cocktails and car bombs. He allegedly also urged others to induce young girls to self-harm.

Nichita P. is believed to have been a minor at the time of the alleged offenses, the prosecutors say.