Is Turkey planning extradition?: Reporters track down wanted Attila Hildmann

Once a vegan cookbook author, the judiciary is now looking for Attila Hildmann.

Is Turkey planning extradition?: Reporters track down wanted Attila Hildmann

Once a vegan cookbook author, the judiciary is now looking for Attila Hildmann. The magazine "Stern" is now tracking down the ardent anti-Semite in Turkey. From there he is supposed to lead a right-wing extremist Telegram group in which he compares himself to Adolf Hitler.

According to the magazine "Stern", the conspiracy ideologist Attila Hildmann, who was wanted for hate speech, was located in Turkey. As the magazine reports, Hildmann is hiding in the city of Kartepe, about an hour and a half drive south-east of Istanbul. Hildmann, who became known as a vegan chef, is wanted on an international arrest warrant.

According to "Stern", Hildmann has lived in Kartepe since the summer of this year, alone with two huskies and three cats. Accordingly, he had previously lived in the coastal town of Gömec in the province of Balikesir since autumn 2021. Hildmann appeared as a conspiracy ideologue during the Corona crisis. The German judiciary has accused him of incitement to hatred and public incitement to commit crimes.

According to its own statements, "Stern" has been researching Hildmann's whereabouts since May 2022. At times, the magazine accompanied a group of amateur detectives who had been tracking Hildmann for some time. A member of the self-proclaimed Hildbusters, Alexander Brehm, found him in his hiding place together with "Stern" reporters. Brehm then immediately informed the German Consulate General in Istanbul. Hildmann is now to be extradited to Germany. The investigators are in contact with the Turkish authorities, reports the "Berliner Zeitung".

From his hiding place in Turkey, Hildmann directs a closed private support group on the messenger service Telegram, according to "Stern". Hildmann has been advertising for the exclusive private supporter group on his publicly accessible Telegram channels since June 2022. Anyone who donates money to his accounts or orders his groceries online will be let in. The magazine ordered some Hildmann groceries under a false name.

In mid-August, Hildmann sent "Stern" an invitation link to his private group called "Wolfsschanze". That's what the Wehrmacht called a "Fuhrer Headquarters" in East Prussia. Hildmann later changed the group name several times.

According to the magazine, around 200 paying fans of Hildmann gather in the group. Many are apparently staunch Nazis who talk about NPD marches, saying that the sight of Jews makes them "gag" and that they are admirers of Hitler. Some would address Hildmann as "my leader".

Hildmann incites his followers: "One day you have to defend yourself," said the 41-year-old, according to "Stern". His supporters should prepare for the fight and distribute anti-Semitic leaflets in Germany. He made the forms available to download free of charge. Hildmann apparently sees himself as Adolf Hitler's successor, who wants to lead the fight. "There will be no second 1945 under my leadership," Hildmann wrote.