Internet Hate Preacher Paul Brandenburg Arrested at Berlin's BER Airport

Federal police arrested Paul Brandenburg, a former Berlin physician turned prominent online agitator, at Berlin Brandenburg Airport BER on Wednesday morning at around 10:30 a.m. A judge subsequently ordered his remand in custody, citing a significant flight risk. Brandenburg rose to national prominence as a vocal opponent of Covid-19 pandemic measures and has since operated a series of social media channels through which he spread hate speech against politicians, journalists, court employees, and individual Berlin police officers. Among his targets was Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU), whom he repeatedly and falsely branded a child-abuse supporter in connection with an inquiry into a drag performer. Brandenburg also maintained what he called an "archive of state terrorists," publishing names and photos of prosecutors, judges, and police officers involved in his cases. He faces charges including defamation, incitement to hatred, and use of unconstitutional symbols; defaming persons in political office carries a minimum six-month sentence. Originally more than 200 proceedings were open against him; many have since been consolidated. Brandenburg had previously evaded arrest by relocating abroad; his last registered Swiss address was no longer valid, strengthening the flight-risk argument. He had occasionally returned to Germany for public appearances, including an AfD panel event in January.