German NSU Terrorists Found Dead, Ruled Suicide

abryx · #1 ● 02-24-2017, 10:24 AM

The grim saga of the National Socialist Underground (NSU), a neo-Nazi terrorist group responsible for a series of racist murders in Germany, culminated in the deaths of two of its key members, Uwe Böhnhardt and Uwe Mundlos, in a dramatic turn of events in 2011. The NSU's heinous crimes, which occurred between 2000 and 2007, targeted primarily ethnic Turks, but also included victims of Greek origin and a German policewoman, reflecting a pattern of racially motivated violence.

Böhnhardt and Mundlos, along with Beate Zschäpe, were identified as the primary suspects in the NSU murders. The group was responsible for the deaths of ten people and left one wounded, executing their attacks with gunshots at close range using a silenced CZ 83 pistol. Most of the victims were small business owners, such as doner kebab vendors and greengrocers, murdered in broad daylight. The case initially baffled the police, who suspected the involvement of foreign organized criminals.

The series of killings was marked by a profound failure of German law enforcement agencies to recognize the racist motive behind the crimes, instead focusing on potential links within immigrant communities. This oversight contributed to a delay in apprehending the culprits and understanding the true nature of the crimes.

The end of the NSU's reign of terror came abruptly when Böhnhardt and Mundlos were found dead by police after they robbed a bank on November 4, 2011. It was reported that they killed themselves following the robbery. Shortly after their deaths, on November 11, 2011, Zschäpe surrendered to the authorities. She was charged with murder, attempted murder, arson, and belonging to a terrorist organization. The police also discovered an alleged hit-list of 88 names that included prominent members of the Bundestag and representatives of Turkish and Islamic groups.