Munich Prosecutors Close 1970 Antisemitic Arson Case After Identifying Suspect

Munich's Public Prosecutor's Office believes it has identified the perpetrator of one of the most severe antisemitic attacks in post-war Germany. New investigations strongly suggest the involvement of a man who passed away in 2020.

Following his death, additional information came to light, prompting the reopening of the case in April 2025. With investigators satisfied of the culprit's identity, but unable to prosecute a deceased individual and finding no evidence of accomplices, the file is now being closed again.

The case concerns a devastating fire that erupted on February 13, 1970, at the Jewish religious community for Munich and Upper Bavaria, which housed a retirement home. The attack claimed the lives of seven individuals, all of whom had survived the Holocaust, with two having been previously held in Nazi concentration camps. Prosecutors revealed that the fire was deliberately set using a "gasoline mixture" sprinkled and ignited in multiple locations within a stairwell to ensure rapid spread. The blaze also injured 15 others, four severely, and caused extensive damage to the building, particularly its upper floors.

Investigations into the attack were initially halted in 2017, nearly five decades after the suspected homicides. The decision to reopen the case was driven by credible testimony from a witness who provided information about the suspect. The witness stated that the suspect had been closely associated with one of her relatives in the 1970s and came forward shortly after the relative's death.

Authorities reviewed old case files and interviewed associates of the suspect during the renewed investigation. While prosecutors have not identified the suspect publicly, they emphasized that posthumous prosecution is not possible in Germany, and the presumption of innocence remains in effect even after death. The identified suspect was 25 years old at the time of the attack and was a regular visitor to the area surrounding the religious center. On the night of the fire, he was reportedly overheard complaining about Jewish people and expressing a desire to set fire to the building, which subsequently ignited within fifteen minutes, according to prosecutors. These allegations are supported by credible statements from the witness, who was relaying information from her deceased relative, with further corroboration from additional relatives.

Further background investigations solidified suspicions against the man. He was known to be involved in Munich's far-right community at the time and was described by witnesses as an antisemite with a fascination for Hitler. His youth was marked by listening to Hitler's speeches and practicing shooting near Adolf Hitler's former holiday home. He also had a history of using explosives, including a juvenile conviction for detonating two telephone booths in the 1960s. A former headteacher recalled a violent incident where he displayed a Hitler Youth dagger, claiming it was a gift from his father.

While prosecutors could not definitively state whether the suspect acted alone, their investigation did not uncover any evidence of accomplices. In conclusion, the new investigations strongly indicate the suspect's involvement, though legal proceedings are no longer possible.