"YEMEN MERCENARIES": That's what ASGAARD GSG says.

“Former Bundeswehr soldiers” suspected of terrorism? The headlines focus on the German parliamentary army and do it quite a disservice. Arend-Adolf G. (60) served from 1980 to 1983 and was a reserve staff sergeant. “Yemen-Achim” (52, mistakenly referred to as 64 in the media), who seemed to want to follow in the footsteps of “Congo-Müller” as a mercenary, rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant during his active service from 1990 to 1998. After studying politics (as a civilian), he became a reserve officer and climbed the career ladder (rank-wise) high. He should hold the rank of Major or Lieutenant Colonel in the Reserve. If both were to rob a bank today, no newspaper would certainly title, “Former Bundeswehr soldiers rob bank” with the time gap. In his professional life, Achim teaches security forces as a freelance lecturer for the German market and thought he had something to do with CSU security policy. The CSU doesn’t seem to remember so clearly…

So, did “Yemen-Achim” really try to build a “mercenary group”? The legal definition of mercenaries, as laid out in Article 47 of the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1977 and the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries of 1989, is very narrow and requires, among other things, recruitment for combat, direct participation in hostilities, and individual profit motive. Currently, one will have to examine the reasoning of the Federal Prosecutor General or the investigation results closely. “Yemen-Achim” apparently tried to find clients in Saudi Arabia, aiming for a 150-man group – which is very few. Saudi Arabia is involved in the civil war in Yemen with up to 150,000 men. They didn't wait for Germans. And failure came even earlier, after the conversation with one of the seven men approached, who seemed to have revealed himself to the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD). Then the fun was over and it got serious.

In the media, the name ASGAARD is frequently mentioned in connection with the detainees, a German security company that operates internationally and is often covered by the media. The BILD newspaper, by the way, directly placed the image above – with security vehicles, armed security forces, and multi-line tabloid – in the German city of Hamm. That was actually taken in Baghdad. The company works as a Private Security Contractor (PSC), not a mercenary service, and provided security for the Saudi Arabian Embassy in the Iraqi capital. The Saudis consciously employ German security forces here. It's a risky job, as Saudis in Iraq are seen as legitimate targets by both Shiite and Sunni extremists. The uniformed security work looks military: helmet, plate carrier, and assault rifle are part of self-protection and are also intended to be deterrent. What is not shown, of course, are images of embassy personnel being escorted in suits.

The BILD newspaper simply illustrated the story about “Yemen-Achim” with images of ASGAARD. Looks spectacular. However, the connection seems very relative, to say the least. We document the statement of the German security company on this:

Statement on the current, misleading, and untrue reporting about ASGAARD GSG – Consulting GmbH

On 20.10.2021, two individuals, Achim A. and Arend Adolf G., were temporarily arrested on the basis of "the urgent suspicion of attempting to establish a terrorist organization" in an investigative procedure by the Federal Prosecutor General.

Since then, misleading and untrue claims have been spread in various media outlets, suggesting a non-existent connection to ASGAARD or the acting persons of ASGAARD. As the managing director of ASGAARD German Security Guards – Consulting GmbH, I make the following statement:

- ASGAARD German Security Guards – Consulting GmbH or the acting persons for them are not involved in any way in the plans of the aforementioned suspects.

- ASGAARD and the individuals acting for them were not contacted or questioned by the investigative authorities in this context as witnesses or suspects.

Therefore, the investigative authorities are aware that ASGAARD and the individuals acting for them are not involved in the plans or intentions of the suspects.

Adolf-Arend G. was never the managing director of ASGAARD German Security Guards – Consulting GmbH. Achim A. was also never the managing director of ASGAARD German Security Guards – Consulting GmbH. The suspects were never involved in the management of ASGAARD German Security Guards – Consulting GmbH.

The suspects were last employed by ASGAARD in 2017 for approximately 2 weeks (Achim A.) and approximately 4 months (Arend-Adolf G.). Their positions were internal service manager (Arend-Adolf G.) and operations manager (Achim A.). Both were classified as unfit for service due to serious misconduct and were no longer used.

Since 2017, the suspects have not been in a business relationship with ASGAARD.

In August 2021, the suspects had telephone conversations with an ASGAARD employee and management, outlining a "humanitarian NGO project" with the aim of "establishing protection zones with a robust mandate" in Yemen. The project seemed utopian and carried unpredictable risks - even in legal terms - if the realization were to be seriously pursued.

The company ASGAARD, the management, and the contacted employee expressly refused any support in planning and implementing the outlined project. I personally immediately informed our employees and partners in written form or by phone of the dangers of such an assignment and explicitly advised against any cooperation with the suspects if they were to be contacted with recruitment intentions. It was emphasized that any cooperation with the suspects would lead to the immediate termination of any collaboration with ASGAARD.

There were never active soldiers deployed for ASGAARD at any time, contrary to circulating false claims.

I will legally pursue and litigate the dissemination of false claims as well as the use of copyrighted photos.

Dirk Gassmann, CEO ASGAARD

Hamm, 22.10.2021

ASGAARD online

“Yemen Mercenaries” on SPARTANAT

– What the Attorney General says