- Nationalsozialistischer Untergrund
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Nationalsozialistischer Untergrund or NSU, (English: National Socialist Underground) is a far-right German terror group which was uncovered in November 2011. The Bosphorus serial murders, a murder series of nine Turkish and Greek immigrants between 9 September 2000 and 6 April 2006, the murder of a policewoman and the 2004 Cologne bombing have been attributed to the NSU.[1] The Attorney General of Germany called the NSU a "right-wing extremist group", who have the purpose to "kill out of xenophobic and anti-state sentiments all citizens of foreign origin".[2]
On 4 November 2011, after a bank robbery in Eisenach, Uwe Mundlos and Uwe Böhnhardt were found shot dead in a mobile home, which was burning. Police say they set the vehicle on fire and committed suicide when their vehicle was found.[3] In that caravan, the handgun of murdered police woman Michèle Kiesewetter was found. The same day, their flat in Zwickau also was set on fire and an explosion occured, Beate Zschäpe is suspected of having caused that.[4]
Police found a number of shotguns believed to be related to the Döner murders in the remains of the house. Further, a DVD was found with images of three of the dead persons that had been taken immediately after the killings.[3]
On 13 November 2011, Holger G., a possible fourth member of the NSU was arrested and brought before a judge at Germany's Federal Court of Justice the following day, who ordered him to be detained in custody. The German Federal Prosecutor's Office wanted Holger G. detained on suspicion of membership in a terrorist group. However the court's investigating judge only authorized G. to be detained on suspicion of supporting a terrorist organization.[5]
The discovery of the crimes committed by the „Nationalsozialistischer Untergrund“ terror group plunged Germany in a state of shock [6], even if right winged terrorism has historical roots in Germany [7]. After the brutal crimes were known by the public, Chancellor Angela Merkel stated on 14 November 2011 that she wants to consider a ban of the National Democratic Party of Germany to weaken the power of extremist right-wing groups.[8]
References
- ^ "Haftbefehl gegen Holger G. aus Niedersachen erlassen" (in German). Hamburger Abendblatt. 14 November 2011. http://www.abendblatt.de/politik/deutschland/article2093531/Haftbefehl-gegen-Holger-G-aus-Niedersachen-erlassen.html. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ Range, Harald (13 November 2011). "Haftbefehl gegen die Brandstifterin von Zwickau wegen mutmaßlicher Mitgliedschaft in der terroristischen Vereinigung "Nationalsozialistischer Untergrund (NSU)"" (in German). Attorney General of Germany. http://www.generalbundesanwalt.de/de/showpress.php?themenid=13&newsid=419. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Dokumentierten rechtsextreme Täter ihre Hinrichtungen?" (in German). Hamburger Abendblatt. 12 November 2011. http://www.abendblatt.de/politik/deutschland/article2091707/Dokumentierten-rechtsextreme-Taeter-ihre-Hinrichtungen.html. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ Lindner, Jan-Eric (12 November 2011). "Die mörderische Spur durch ganz Deutschland" (in German). Hamburger Abendblatt. http://www.abendblatt.de/vermischtes/article2091206/Die-moerderische-Spur-durch-ganz-Deutschland.html. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ Diehl, Jörg (15 November 2011). "Fourth Suspected Terror-Cell Member Detained" (in English). Der Spiegel. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,797813,00.html. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ^ Zwickauer Zelle: Republik im Schockzustand, Severin Weiland, Spiegel Online, 13. November 2011, retrived 18 November 2011
- ^ (French) «Blognotice 15.11.2011 – les échos de l’énigme de Zwickau », Analyse in Paysages - Blog- Le Monde.fr, 15 novembre 2011, retrieved 18 November 2011
- ^ Hawley, Charles (15 November 2011). "The World from Berlin: 'The Neo-Nazi Killers Were Among Us'" (in English). Der Spiegel. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,797948,00.html. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
Categories:- 2000s in Germany
- German mass murderers
- Murder in Germany
- Neo-Nazism in Germany
- Terrorism in Germany
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