German Authorities Identify Suspected Arsonist in 1970 Attack

Investigators in Germany have identified a neo-Nazi suspect in a deadly 1970 arson attack on a Jewish community center, reopening old wounds.

German investigators believe they have now identified an arsonist who set fire to a Jewish community centre in Munich in 1970, killing seven people.

For decades, the man’s identity remained a mystery. However, Munich prosecutors now assert that he was a 25-year-old lone neo-Nazi with known antisemitic views.

The seven fatalities were all Holocaust survivors, ranging in age from 59 to 71. An additional 15 individuals were injured in the attack.

Unfortunately, the prosecutors’ revelations will come too late to provide justice for the victims, as the suspect, identified by Der Spiegel magazine as Bernd V, passed away in 2020.

On the evening of February 13, 1970, around 20:40, authorities state that the perpetrator poured petrol into the wooden stairwell of a retirement home, which was located within the Jewish community building on Reichenbachstrasse, before igniting it. The fire quickly spread to the top floor of the building.

While many individuals managed to escape to the roof or were rescued by firefighters, four victims tragically perished in the stairwell. Another victim died after jumping from a window to escape the flames.

Prosecutors now contend they have compelling grounds indicating the deceased suspect as the perpetrator, based on credible information provided by a woman who came forward last year after the death of a close relative who had known the man well.

This witness reported that the suspected killer had made antisemitic remarks within the vicinity of the community building, claiming “the Jews had everything” and expressing a desire to “set them on fire.” Just fifteen minutes later, the building was engulfed in flames.

Various family members of the witness corroborated those statements. Other witnesses characterized the man as having a “Hitler-fixation” and noted how he listened to recordings of speeches by the Nazi leader during his youth.

One head teacher described how the suspect had allegedly used a Hitler-youth dagger, a gift from his father, during a confrontation. He had previously received a juvenile conviction for blowing up two phone kiosks.

Der Spiegel reported that the female witness’s relative had once been part of a burglary gang and that on the night of the arson attack, they had attempted to rob a jewelry store in nearby Gärtnerplatz, which had failed. The witness believed that this failed burglary incited Bernd V into an antisemitic rage, prompting the violent act.

The investigation into the arson was initially closed in 2017 due to insufficient evidence. However, it was reopened last year as new details emerged.

Despite the identification of a suspect, prosecutors emphasized that the presumption of innocence still applies, even posthumously. They have also asserted there is no reliable evidence suggesting anyone else was involved in the attack.

Fifty-six years after the tragedy, German authorities are now confident in their resolution of this notorious antisemitic crime. Yet, many will likely view this case as a historic failure on the part of the police.