Germany to pay 10,000 euros for Nazi victims

Germany is considering making 10,000 euroes in payments to relatives of those slain by a neo-Nazi group believed to have killed nine members of ethnic minorities and a policewoman over the past decade.

It is also considering opening a center to fight against the far right in the future, according to reports.Justice Ministry spokesman Anders Mertzlufft told reporters yesterday that the government would draw from an existing fund earmarked to compensate victims of extremist violence and terrorism.

Mertzlufft said the ministry was reaching out to the victims’ family members. He said the payments were not an attempt to make up for the crimes committed but meant as a “gesture of solidarity” with those who lost a loved one. Wolfgang Bosbach, the head of the parliamentary committee in charge of domestic political issues, said it was “hard to understand” why it had taken so long for the police and intelligence forces to establish a connection between the murders. The Federal Parliament Interior Affairs commission met on Nov. 20 to establish a “Protection center against the far-right.” Germany’s parliament, chancellery, and presidency have also agreed to hold a national memorial service. “We all agree that an event should be held,” the president of Germany’s parliament, Norbert Lammert said. The center to fight against the far right is slated to be opened in either Bonn or Cologne, Doğan news agency reported. The CNNTürk news channel also reported yesterday that neo-Nazis were behind attacks on four kebab houses owned by Turks.

Additional AP and Reuters stories from Berlin are included in this report.