Brief interruption in the commemorative event for the NSU attack.
On Sunday afternoon, a commemoration event for the 20th anniversary of the NSU nail bomb attack in Cologne's Keupstraße was delayed due to the discovery of a potential explosive device. According to a police spokesperson, a sniffer dog was accidentally struck by a hydrant, prompting clean-up crews to be called in. After their thorough examination, the area was declared safe.
German Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was set to address the event at 2 p.m. However, his arrival was momentarily put on hold due to police reports. He is now en route to the venue. Another high-profile attendee is North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister President, Hendrik Wüst. The event, themed "Together - Holding Together," commemorates the horrific attack while also showcasing culture.
Twenty years ago, the NSU right-wing extremists Uwe Böhnhardt and Uwe Mundlos detonated a nail bomb in Keupstraße, resulting in 22 injuries, four of them severe. The attack marks one of the many in a string of right-wing extremist actions committed by the NSU, which included ten murders and two other bomb attacks. Böhnhardt and Mundlos allegedly took their own lives in 2011 to evade arrest following a failed bank robbery. Beate Zschäpe, the third member of the NSU extremist group, remains in custody.
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The discovery of a potential explosive device, later identified as suspected explosives, led to a brief interruption in the commemoration event for the NSU attack. Despite the delay, German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister President, Hendrik Wüst, are expected to attend the event, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the 2001 NSU nail bomb attack known for its severe consequences.
