5 charged in synagogue bomb plot

Associated Press/May 6, 2004

Munich -- German prosecutors on Wednesday charged three women and two men with being members or supporters of a neo-Nazi organization that they say plotted to bomb the dedication ceremony last year at a new Munich synagogue.

Authorities announced in September that they had foiled the plot, which prosecutors say was drawn up by known neo-Nazi Martin Wiese's Kameradschaft Sued organization. The ceremony on November 9 was attended by German President Johannes Rau and prominent German Jewish leaders.

At the time, police said the group obtained weapons and explosives, including TNT from Poland, which they brought to Munich for testing. Munich police seized 1.7 kilograms of TNT, 14 kg. of suspected explosives, and two hand grenades during raids.

Federal prosecutors said four suspects - identified only as Monika St., an 18-year-old office worker, Ramona Sch., a 19-year-old student, Jessica F., a 22-year-old trainee, and Thomas Sch., an unemployed 18-year-old - have now been charged with membership in a terrorist organization, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

Andreas J., an unemployed 37-year-old, faces the lesser charge of supporting a terrorist organization.

No date has been set for trial.

Wiese and nine other suspects are still under investigation, prosecutors said.

Wiese is known to authorities as the informal leader of a group of approximately 25 neo-Nazis and skinheads that has been in active in protesting the US war in Iraq and a now-finished traveling exhibition of photos documenting World War II atrocities committed by the German army.