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Germany Reopens Inquiry Into 1980 Oktoberfest Bombing With New Witness Germany Reopens Case of Oktoberfest Bombing
(about 7 hours later)
BERLIN — More than 34 years after a bomb ripped through a festive Friday night crowd at the 1980 Oktoberfest in Munich, federal prosecutors announced that a witness they described as previously unknown had come forward and that they would reopen their investigation of Germany’s deadliest right-wing terrorist attack. BERLIN — More than 34 years after a bomb ripped through a festive Friday night crowd at the 1980 Oktoberfest in Munich, federal prosecutors announced that a witness they described as previously unknown had come forward and that they would reopen their investigation of Germany’s deadliest right-wing terrorist attack.
The presumed bomber, Gundolf Köhler, was among 13 people killed when a bomb made of an old hand grenade packed with nails exploded, slicing through the crowd around one of the beer festival’s exit points. More than 200 people were injured in the bloody devastation, several of them seriously.The presumed bomber, Gundolf Köhler, was among 13 people killed when a bomb made of an old hand grenade packed with nails exploded, slicing through the crowd around one of the beer festival’s exit points. More than 200 people were injured in the bloody devastation, several of them seriously.
The bomber was said for decades to have acted alone. But suspicions about accomplices and right-wing associations lingered, and at least one Munich lawyer, Werner Dietrich, never believed the bomber was the sole actor.The bomber was said for decades to have acted alone. But suspicions about accomplices and right-wing associations lingered, and at least one Munich lawyer, Werner Dietrich, never believed the bomber was the sole actor.
Mr. Dietrich, who has battled for 32 years to have the investigation revived, said in a telephone interview that the decision to reopen the inquiry, announced on Thursday, was prompted by a telephone call he received in September from a woman who said she had new details about the bombing.Mr. Dietrich, who has battled for 32 years to have the investigation revived, said in a telephone interview that the decision to reopen the inquiry, announced on Thursday, was prompted by a telephone call he received in September from a woman who said she had new details about the bombing.
The woman told Mr. Dietrich she had taught German at the time in a home for Germans expelled from Silesia at the end of World War II and their descendants. Some of these Germans, known as Aussiedler, had right-wing leanings.The woman told Mr. Dietrich she had taught German at the time in a home for Germans expelled from Silesia at the end of World War II and their descendants. Some of these Germans, known as Aussiedler, had right-wing leanings.
She said that early on Saturday morning, just hours after the late-night bombing, she had found fliers at the German home saying that Mr. Köhler had placed the bomb. The fliers lauded the bomber as “a hero of the right,” Mr. Dietrich said.She said that early on Saturday morning, just hours after the late-night bombing, she had found fliers at the German home saying that Mr. Köhler had placed the bomb. The fliers lauded the bomber as “a hero of the right,” Mr. Dietrich said.
The woman told Mr. Dietrich that she had gone to the police back then, but that they only took her name and address and asked whether she had been injured or threatened. The woman told Mr. Dietrich that she had gone to the police back then but that they only took her name and address and asked whether she had been injured or threatened.
He said that the police had also failed to follow up after taking statements from three or four men who were among the injured and had talked of seeing Mr. Köhler arguing with other people right before the bomb went off. Another man also testified shortly after the bombing that he had seen Mr. Köhler in a vehicle just 15 meters (about 50 feet) from the bombing site, Mr. Dietrich said.He said that the police had also failed to follow up after taking statements from three or four men who were among the injured and had talked of seeing Mr. Köhler arguing with other people right before the bomb went off. Another man also testified shortly after the bombing that he had seen Mr. Köhler in a vehicle just 15 meters (about 50 feet) from the bombing site, Mr. Dietrich said.
Those witnesses “are not mysterious and they are not new,” Mr. Dietrich said, referring to the men. “They gave statements, but these have not been correctly assessed.”Those witnesses “are not mysterious and they are not new,” Mr. Dietrich said, referring to the men. “They gave statements, but these have not been correctly assessed.”
He declined to identify the new witness, or to give any more details about her, saying that she wanted her name kept private.He declined to identify the new witness, or to give any more details about her, saying that she wanted her name kept private.
Mr. Dietrich said that he had talked with the woman by phone, and that he had written down what she said. After she signed a statement, he contacted the federal prosecutor’s office to ask that the investigation be reopened, he said.Mr. Dietrich said that he had talked with the woman by phone, and that he had written down what she said. After she signed a statement, he contacted the federal prosecutor’s office to ask that the investigation be reopened, he said.
An investigator then questioned the woman, Mr. Dietrich said.An investigator then questioned the woman, Mr. Dietrich said.
The federal prosecutor, Harald Range, provided little of this detail when announcing on Thursday that the investigation would be reopened.The federal prosecutor, Harald Range, provided little of this detail when announcing on Thursday that the investigation would be reopened.
“There is no statute of limitations on murder,” Mr. Range said. “The statement by a woman witness who was not previously known prompted me to reopen formal inquiries into the Oktoberfest attack on Sept. 26, 1980. We will not restrict ourselves to this woman witness and her statements alone. Indeed, we will again comprehensively pursue all clues to clear up the background of this vile murder.”“There is no statute of limitations on murder,” Mr. Range said. “The statement by a woman witness who was not previously known prompted me to reopen formal inquiries into the Oktoberfest attack on Sept. 26, 1980. We will not restrict ourselves to this woman witness and her statements alone. Indeed, we will again comprehensively pursue all clues to clear up the background of this vile murder.”
Karl Rebmann, the federal prosecutor responsible at the time for investigating the bombing, examined the case for more than two years but failed to turn up evidence that Mr. Köhler had any accomplices in making or placing the bomb, or connections to any persons or groups with a known history of such attacks. Karl Rebmann, the federal prosecutor responsible at the time for investigating the bombing, examined the case for more than two years but failed to turn up evidence that Mr. Köhler had any accomplices in making or placing the bomb, or connections to any people or groups with a known history of such attacks.
The bomber was said at the time to have connections to right-wing extremists in the banned neo-Nazi Defense Sports Group, six of whose members were briefly detained after the bombing. Nothing was ever proved and the investigation was stopped in November 1982. The bomber was said at the time to have connections to right-wing extremists in the banned neo-Nazi Defense Sports Group, six of whose members were briefly detained after the bombing. Nothing was ever proved, and the investigation was stopped in November 1982.
The statement winding up that inquiry mentioned that there had been indications of a third party or persons involved, but said that no conclusive evidence had emerged. The statement winding up that inquiry mentioned that there had been indications of a third party or persons involved but said that no conclusive evidence had emerged.
The bombing was the worst terrorist act attributed to the right wing in Germany after 1945. In the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Germany saw several far-left terrorist attacks, including hijackings and the murders of prominent public figures.The bombing was the worst terrorist act attributed to the right wing in Germany after 1945. In the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Germany saw several far-left terrorist attacks, including hijackings and the murders of prominent public figures.
The Munich bombing came just nine days before the 1980 federal election, a heated contest between Helmut Schmidt, a Social Democrat who was then the chancellor, and Franz-Josef Strauss, long the leader of Bavaria’s conservatives. Mr. Schmidt won re-election.The Munich bombing came just nine days before the 1980 federal election, a heated contest between Helmut Schmidt, a Social Democrat who was then the chancellor, and Franz-Josef Strauss, long the leader of Bavaria’s conservatives. Mr. Schmidt won re-election.
Mr. Dietrich said he first became involved in the bombing inquiry in October 1982, when a few witnesses who felt their original statements had been ignored or mishandled approached him. The witnesses had gotten wind that the investigation was to be wound up, and they wanted to get their version out, he said.Mr. Dietrich said he first became involved in the bombing inquiry in October 1982, when a few witnesses who felt their original statements had been ignored or mishandled approached him. The witnesses had gotten wind that the investigation was to be wound up, and they wanted to get their version out, he said.
Mr. Dietrich declined to say how many of those witnesses are still alive.Mr. Dietrich declined to say how many of those witnesses are still alive.