German police have detained a Polish-German citizen accused of operating a dark web site that incited the murder of prominent politicians. According to German prosecutors, the man was identified only as Martin S., in line with privacy protection laws. The prosecution has charged him with serious crimes against the state.

Although authorities did not release the names of the targeted politicians, Der Spiegel magazine reported that former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, as well as several former federal ministers, were on the list. The man was arrested on Monday evening in Dortmund.

Investigators have not yet disclosed his motive, nor have they suggested that he was acting on behalf of a foreign power. According to the prosecutor’s statement, the man is expected to appear before an investigative judge in the coming days, who will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant.

The site operated by Martin S. on the dark web was accessible only through special software. It also contained instructions for making explosives and personal data of potential victims. Investigators say it had been active since at least June 2025.

The case has caused concern in Germany, coming at a time when politicians are facing a growing number of verbal and physical attacks. Experts say this reflects the increasing polarization of society.

At the same time, the number of cyberattacks targeting Germany and other Western countries continues to rise. In its latest report, Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) warned that companies and institutions are still doing too little to protect themselves.

According to the BSI, the number of DDoS attacks around the national elections in February increased by 52 percent. The agency identified Russia as one of the main sources of such attacks.

(reuters, lud)