Wüst requests apologies from NSU victims in Cologne

Radical Ideology - Wüst requests apologies from NSU victims in Cologne

The leader of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst (CDU), offered an apology to those impacted by the 2004 NSU attack that took place in Cologne. In a piece for the "Cologne City Announcer" and the Turkish newspaper "Hürriyet," he addressed those who endured the assault as well as those who were falsely accused despite being victims.

"The state, whose principal duty is to safeguard its citizens, must recognize its inability to carry out this task in the Keupstraße. It didn't protect the people from physical and psychological harm or false accusations," he penned. He begged "those who were disbelieved for so long and who were unjustly made suspects, even though they were victims, for forgiveness."

A total of 22 people sustained injuries, some being severe. On June 9, 2004, Uwe Mundlos and Uwe Böhnhardt, members of the NSU, planted a nail bomb in Keupstraße, leading to these injuries. For years, the police pointed fingers towards the Turkish neighborhood as a possible cause. No investigation towards right-wing extremism occurred. Following Mundlos and Böhnhardt's deaths in 2011, the reality emerged that the National Socialist Underground (NSU) had perpetrated this assault and other killings.

In his article, Wüst noted that the residents had to confront not only the horror of the attack and the fear for their lives, but also "prejudice and humiliation." As events unfolded, victims were sometimes labeled as suspects. Since then, NRW has been rectifying its blunders. The police and justice system currently take note of the social diversity of our nation more forcefully.

This Sunday, in the presence of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the 20-year-old attack will be commemorated.

Read also:

1. The event took place in Cologne, a city known for its rich history and famous Cologne Cathedral, which is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
2. The Turkish newspaper "Hürriyet" covered the aftermath of the attack, reporting on the widespread impact and ongoing investigations.
3. The CDU, a prominent political party in Germany, has expressed its commitment to address extremism and prevent such incidents in the future.
4. The NSU, or National Socialist Underground, is a neo-Nazi extremist organization responsible for several attacks and killings in Germany, including the incident in Keupstraße, Cologne.
5. Although the police initially pointed fingers towards the Turkish neighborhood, it was later revealed that the real perpetrators were right-wing extremists from Germany.
6. In recent years, there has been a significant rise in migration to Germany, and the country has seen an increasing concern over extremism and terrorism.
7. Some politicians and activists, including Hendrik Wüst, apologize for any mistakes made during the early investigations and urge for greater understanding and tolerance towards all communities in Germany.

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