In a campaign against terrorism, former head of the Brandenburg State Security Service Jörg Müller has called for the intelligence agency to be empowered to monitor children if necessary. “Security authorities need the ability to observe actors who are under 14 years old when they commit serious crimes or plan terrorism” Müller told “Stern” and RTL, adding that the legal framework must be changed.
He made the remarks in the context of the upcoming trial against eight young people charged with alleged membership in or support for the far‑right terrorist group “Last Defense Wave”. According to Müller, the state security service has struggled to gather intelligence on very young extremists because current regulations prohibit processing and storing data on people under 14. He explained that if a 12‑year‑old discusses a race war in a chat group, the security service and police are not involved. “That is the precursor to the act of violence” he said.
“If we expect the police and security service not only to act as fire‑fighters and extinguish fires but also to try to prevent them in advance, we must equip them with the necessary means” Müller added.
Activities of “Last Defense Wave” were revealed in April 2024 through investigations by “Stern” and RTL. In early December 2025, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against several members, including allegations of membership in a terrorist organization, attempted murder and agreement to murder.
Jörg Müller led the Brandenburg State Security Service from 2020 to 2025. In May 2025 he was placed on temporary retirement, reportedly due to a conflict with then‑Interior Minister Katrin Lange (SPD) over the classification of the AfD. Lange faced criticism after Müller’s dismissal and resigned shortly thereafter.
