bockstal.de

Federal Republic of Germany

A chronology

Deadly arson attacks on Turkish people in Germany

1990 — 1999

Context

After reunification, Germany saw a wave of racist violence against the Turkish community — in their homes, at their workplaces, in their schools.

The following three arson attacks are among the deadliest documented attacks of that decade to have deliberately targeted Turkish residents.

1992

Mölln

Schleswig-Holstein

Arson attack on two houses occupied by Turkish families

Two neo-Nazis set fire to two houses in Mühlenstraße and Ratzeburger Straße occupied by the Turkish Arslan and Yılmaz families. The anonymous call reporting the fire to the fire brigade ended with the words “Heil Hitler”.

3
Fatalities
9
Injured
2
Perpetrators identified
2
Convicted

In memory of

  • Bahide Arslan, 51
  • Yeliz Arslan, 10
  • Ayşe Yılmaz, 14

Verdicts

Michael Peters — life imprisonment.

Lars Christiansen — 9 years’ youth custody.

1993

Solingen

North Rhine-Westphalia

Arson attack on the Genç family home

Four young men from the local far-right skinhead scene set fire to the Genç family home in Untere Wernerstraße. Three girls and two women died; fourteen other family members were injured, some of them seriously.

5
Fatalities
14
Injured
4
Perpetrators identified
4
Convicted

In memory of

  • Gürsün İnce, 27
  • Hatice Genç, 18
  • Gülüstan Öztürk, 12
  • Hülya Genç, 9
  • Saime Genç, 4

Verdicts

Markus Gartmann — 15 years’ imprisonment (adult criminal law).

Kohnen, Reher, Buchholz — 10 years each (juvenile criminal law, maximum sentence).

1996

Karlsruhe

Baden-Württemberg

Arson attack at Markgrafenstraße 41

In the early hours of the morning, unknown perpetrators used an accelerant to start a fire in the stairwell of a rear building occupied mainly by Turkish families. Three residents of Turkish origin died. Despite a 30-strong special investigation unit, some 250 leads followed up and a reward of 10,000 Deutschmarks, the crime was never solved.

3
Fatalities
—
Injured
0
Perpetrators identified
0
Convicted

In memory of

  • Three residents of Turkish origin
  • among them the parents of Kenan Yılmaz

State of the investigation

No arrest to this day. The case remains unsolved.

A racist motive is suspected — never proven, never ruled out.

Later in the decade

Further arson attacks with a suspected racist motive

DateWhat happenedCasualtiesState of the investigation
SaarlouisFirebomb attack on an asylum seekers’ hostel 1 dead (Samuel Yeboah, Ghana), 2 injured Suspect not convicted until 2023
HünxeArson attack on an asylum seekers’ hostel 2 Lebanese girls seriously injured Perpetrators convicted — youth sentences
StuttgartFire in a house occupied by foreigners 7 dead Far-right motive suspected — unsolved
Lübeck (Hafenstraße)Arson attack on a refugee shelter 10 dead (Africa, Lebanon) Unsolved to this day; suspect acquitted

Sources: court records · BNN · taz · Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung · Tagesspiegel · Wikipedia · GHDI

Documentary film

Markgrafenstr. 41 — The Fire That Still Burns

To the film page →