Berlin, November 12, 2025 — German authorities have arrested a Polish-German citizen accused of running a dark web site that solicited assassination attempts against prominent politicians, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.

The suspect, identified only as Martin S. in line with German privacy laws, allegedly requested cryptocurrency donations to fund the murder of individuals he had designated with “death sentences.”

---

Targeted Politicians

While officials did not disclose specific targets, Spiegel news magazine reported that former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, along with other former federal ministers, were allegedly on the list.

The arrest took place late Monday evening in Dortmund, in western Germany. Prosecutors have charged Martin S. with serious crimes against the state, although no motive or links to foreign actors were suggested.

“The accused will appear before an investigative judge today, who will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant,” prosecutors stated.

---

Dark Web Activity and Threats

The site, active since at least June 2025, reportedly contained:

• Instructions for making explosives
• Personal information about potential targets
• Solicitation for funding assassination attempts

Authorities warned that the scale and sophistication of such cyber threats against politicians are rising, reflecting broader concerns about online radicalization and digital security in Germany.

German politicians have increasingly faced verbal and physical attacks, coinciding with a period of heightened political polarization.

---

Cyber Threat Landscape in Germany

Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) recently reported that companies and public institutions are still underprepared for cyberattacks, including distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which surged 52% around February’s national election.

The report highlighted that Russia remains one of the main sources of such attacks targeting German networks. The BSI’s warning underscores the growing need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect both public officials and critical infrastructure.

---

Outlook

Authorities continue to monitor the dark web for threats against public figures and state institutions. The case of Martin S. illustrates how cryptocurrency and encrypted platforms can be misused to facilitate violent crimes and underscores the importance of international cooperation in cybersecurity enforcement.

“This case demonstrates that threats against public figures are evolving into serious cyber-enabled criminal activity,” analysts said, noting that law enforcement must keep pace with increasingly sophisticated online actors.