Munich prosecutors and police have identified a German man, who died in 2020, as the likely perpetrator of a devastating antisemitic arson attack on a Jewish community center in Munich on February 13, 1970. The fire, which claimed the lives of seven residents and injured fifteen others, remains one of the most severe antisemitic crimes in post-war Germany. While investigators have strong indications pointing to this individual, the case cannot be legally concluded as charges cannot be brought against a deceased person.
Decades-Long Investigation Reopened
The investigation into the 1970 attack, which targeted a building serving as both a retirement home and guest house for the Jewish community, was initially shelved in 2017 after years of fruitless inquiry. Speculation at the time pointed towards Middle Eastern terrorists or far-left militants. However, the case was reopened last year following a crucial tip-off, leading authorities to focus on a German man with a pronounced admiration for Adolf Hitler.
“The new investigations conducted after the reopening of the case strongly indicate that the suspect was the perpetrator,” stated a joint release from Munich police and prosecutors. They emphasized that a definitive legal resolution is impossible under German law, which prohibits prosecuting individuals who have passed away. Investigators also explored the possibility of the suspect acting as part of a larger group but found no concrete evidence to support this, suggesting he may have acted alone.
Suspect Profile and Witness Accounts
At the time of the 1970 attack, the suspect was 25 years old and reportedly belonged to the right-wing extremist milieu. Witnesses described him as antisemitic. While his identity has not been officially released, media reports have partially named him as Bernd V. The investigation gained significant traction in April of the previous year when a female witness came forward. She revealed that the suspect had been in close contact with a relative of hers, providing new information shortly after that relative’s death.
Evidence gathered
