Ex-German soldiers detained over Yemen mercenary plot

Two ex-German soldiers have been detained on suspicion of attempting to form a terrorist mercenary organization to fight in the Yemini civil war, according to prosecutors.

Arend-Adolf G., and Achim A., are now facing terrorism charges after police raided their homes in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg on Wednesday, and arrested Arend-Adolf from Munich and Achim from Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald.

The accused allegedly plotted to recruit over 145 men for a private mercenary force consisting of former police and military officials.

The two hoped to offer their services to the Saudi government for its illegal missions in Syria, according to prosecutors.

Yemen has been embroiled in a deadly civil war since 2014, between the Saudi-backed and internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels wanting to oust it.

Saudi Arabia has provided air support to the government and in response has seen its cities attacked with rockets.

The Houthis are supported by Iran and Saudi Arabia has been involved directly in the conflict since 2015, when the rebels managed to capture the Yemini capital.

The ex-German soldiers wanted Saudi financing for their private operations in Yemen. They had approached the Saudi agencies but received no response.

Both the soldiers had “military knowledge” and skills, according to prosecutors. They had planned to pay $46,400 a month to each of the members, and had planned to start services at the start of this year.

Prosecutors are also suspecting the accused to have ambitions for participating in other conflicts where governments would be tempted to hire mercenary units instead of getting involved directly.

Arend-Adolf G., had already managed to secure the services of at least seven former police/military personnel, the prosecutors added.

Since the Saudis did not respond, it was likely that the group would have approached other governments or have waited for a situation where the Saudi government had no other choice.

The ex-soldiers are expected to appear before court on Wednesday for their pre-trial detention hearing.