Franco A. is not the only far-right extremist in Germany discovered by chance. For over a decade, 10 murders in the country, including nine victims who were immigrants, went unsolved. The neo-Nazi group responsible was discovered only when a bank robbery went wrong. In this episode, we ask: Why has a country that spent decades atoning for its Nazi past so often failed to confront far-right extremism?
The case of Franco a was seen as a wake up call for Germany.
But the thing is, it shouldn't have been, because Franco a wasn't the first case to show that Germany has a blind spot when it comes to the far right.
Years before him, there was another case, another wake up call.
It was huge.
It was like watershed.
It was one of the biggest far right terrorism cases Germany has ever seen.
And so in December 2019, I went to Frankfurt with producers Claire tennis Getter and Lindsay Garrison.
Hello, Sara.
To meet a woman who was a part of that case.
Her name is Sada Baja Yildis, and she's a criminal lawyer.
And something changes with me with this case.
Yeah.
When did you.
Before you were even involved as a lawyer?
When did you first hear about the murders?
It was in November 20.
Eleven.
I was on the road to court or something like that.
And I hear the radio terrorism group, and they killed ten people from 2000 till 2007.
And most of the victims, they are turkish people.