Czech police detain fugitive far-right extremist wanted in Germany

Convicted far-right extremist Marla Svenja Liebich, wanted by Germany, was arrested in the Czech Republic after months on the run, authorities said on Thursday.

Czech police arrested Liebich in the town of Luby on the basis of a European arrest warrant, a spokesman for prosecutors in the eastern German city of Halle said.

Liebich briefly attempted to evade arrest but is now in custody, the spokesman said. Extradition proceedings are expected to follow.

Liebich had been due to start serving a sentence by August 29, 2025 at the latest but failed to report to the women’s prison in the city of Chemnitz.

In July 2023, Liebich, then known as Sven Liebich, was convicted by the Halle district court for incitement, defamation and insult, receiving a total prison sentence of one year and six months without parole. Appeals against the conviction were unsuccessful.

Police and prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for enforcement after Liebich did not show up at the prison.