Terrorist Bombers Get Probation

According to a FAZ.NET report from Munich, Germany:

Five people received probationary sentences of 16 to 22 months on Wednesday for plotting to bomb a ceremony marking the beginning of construction of Munich's synagogue in 2003. The court convicted the three men and two women of belonging to a terrorist organization. The defendants admitted that they had planned to carry out the attack, but denied they were part of a terrorist organization. The group's leader, Martin Wiese, is being tried separately.

But wait! While a court in Munich lets bomb plotters go with laughable punishment, law enforcement authorities in Cologne are unable to apprehend them after they successfully explode a bomb and injure tens of innocent people.

Police on Thursday released a new composite drawing that shows a man who may be linked to a nail bomb that was set off last June in the western German city. The picture is based on the description of a witness, police said. The man is in his middle 20s, and is between 1.75 meters and 1.80 meters tall (5.7 feet to 5.9 feet). The bomb that exploded on Keupstrasse injured more than 20 people.

If specific bombers can't be found after an explosion, it's negligent to treat them with leniency before the explosion. Given the fact that the Munich bomb was planned to explode during a ceremony, the intention was to wound or kill those attending. As such, their crime should be considered attempted murder. Probation for attempted murder is outrageous.

Some significant details have been left out of the FAZ.NET reports, such as the names of anything, so there possibly are additional aspects to the story of why bomb threats are not taken more seriously. Also, since the bomb plot was against a synagogue by an alleged terrorist organization, why are there no accusations that the planned attack was a hate crime against Jews?

[Update] According to this report, four of the bomb plotters were convicted of being part of the "Kameradschaft Sued" neo-Nazi group. Being found guilty of membership in a terrorist organization is considered a "serious charge" in Germany, however, no explanation is provided for the leniency in sentencing. The fifth defendant was found guilty of aiding the plot by obtaining explosives and illegally possessing a firearm.