Tougher penalties for ATM bombers

November 6, 2025

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Secretary Thomas Strobl said of the amendment to the law passed on 5 November 2025 by the federal government, ‘For more effective punishment and combating of crimes involving explosive substances’: “With the amendments to the Explosives Act, the investigating authorities now have additional powers to put a stop to ATM bombers. This is important because these are extremely reckless, serious crimesin which extremely unscrupulous perpetrators endanger the health and lives of unsuspecting people. The law also closes loopholes in criminal liability and increases the penalties. In doing so, the Federal Government is setting an important course for curbing organised explosives crime.

Working closely with the police, the judiciary, credit institutions and insurance companies, we have been making life difficult for perpetrators in Baden-Württemberg for a long time. This has paid off: in the first half of 2025, the number of cases fell by 75 per cent, from 28 to seven. And we are not letting up here. With the now expanded investigative powers and tougher sanctions, we are resolutely continuing along this path.”

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