The Baader-Meinhof Gang Hans-Jürgen Bäcker

Undercover name: “Harp.” Hans-Jürgen Bäcker (born in April of 1939) was with the Baader-Meinhof Gang from its first days before Andreas Baader was rescued from police custody in May 1970. He trained in Jordan with the other original core members of the group shortly after Baader’s escape.

After a tipster led to the arrest of Horst Mahler, Brigitte Asdonk, Irene Goergens, and Ingrid Schubert on 8 October 1970, members of the gang began to suspect Bäcker of being a traitor. He left the gang soon thereafter.

Bäcker was arrested on 2 February 1971. In 1974 he was tried and acquitted of participating in the raid that rescued Baader.