Neo-Nazi likely sole perpetrator of 1970 Munich Jewish home arson, prosecutors say

German prosecutors have concluded with high certainty that a neo-Nazi, acting alone, was responsible for a deadly arson attack on a Jewish retirement home in Munich in 1970. The fire killed seven elderly residents, all of whom had survived the Nazi era, including two who had been in extermination camps.

The case, which remained unsolved for decades, was reopened last year after investigators received a tip from the public. The Bavarian General Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday that "solid grounds" exist to believe a suspect, who was 25 at the time of the attack and has since died, was the perpetrator. Under German law, he cannot be formally charged.

According to the prosecution's reconstruction, the suspect was near the Jewish community residence on the night of the fire. Witnesses reported him saying, "The Jews have everything," and expressing an intent to "set the building on fire." The investigation revealed the suspect was involved in far-right circles and was obsessed with Adolf Hitler, listening to his speeches on vinyl records.

He also had a prior record, including convictions for blowing up two telephone booths in Munich with explosives and frequently expressing antisemitic views. While prosecutors are confident in identifying the suspect, they acknowledge that it is no longer legally possible to definitively close the case. They cannot formally accuse the deceased suspect or confirm with absolute certainty whether he acted alone, though there are no indications of group involvement.

Initially, the investigation considered Palestinian nationalists or left-wing armed groups as potential perpetrators. Police had offered a reward of 10,000 marks, the highest at the time in West German history, for information leading to the culprit. The investigation is now definitively closed.