New trial against Susann E.: NSU helper before the Higher Regional Court!

New trial against Susann E.: NSU helper before the Higher Regional Court!

A new chapter in the controversial NSU complex is opening in Dresden. The 3rd Criminal Senate of the Federal Court of Justice has approved charges against Susann E. for supporting a terrorist organization. This decision is a further step in a process that has already raised many questions. The Federal Prosecutor General had filed the lawsuit based on his investigations, and the BGH now saw the conditions for a main hearing to be met. A possible serious offense is punished as an accessory to particularly serious predatory blackmail, along with supporting the NSU in three cases.

Particularly explosive: Susann E. was friends with Beate Zschäpe, one of the central figures in the NSU complex. The allegations say that E. may have known that the NSU trio lived underground and committed various crimes. While the Higher Regional Court initially did not see sufficient evidence to indicate E.'s knowledge of the assassination attempts, the Federal Prosecutor General considers a different assessment to be appropriate. There is a central point here: E. is said to have given the NSU access to her health insurance card, which made it easier for the group to access medical treatment under a false identity.

Charges in detail

The proceedings will now take place before the Dresden Higher Regional Court, which must schedule and conduct the main hearing. In addition to the provision of the health insurance card, the procurement of valid rail cards for the NSU members and the involvement in the rental of a mobile home for further criminal activities are also the subject of the indictment. This mobile home was used, among other things, for a robbery, which further solidifies E.'s connection and possible complicity in the NSU's crimes.

It was only in 2018 that her husband André E. was convicted in Munich for his role in the NSU environment. These connections shed critical light on the widespread support the NSU trio received in the past. Beate Zschäpe herself has already been sentenced to life imprisonment, while other NSU helpers also faced punishment.

The NSU and its background

The NSU is responsible for a series of crimes in which ten people were murdered, including migrants and political opponents. These crimes have deeply shocked Germany and raised important questions about security and right-wing extremist violence. Given the persistently high threat from Islamist terrorism, the debate about how to deal with such groups is becoming more acute again. Jihadist organizations, especially IS, as well as individual perpetrators continue to pose an increased risk, as has recently become clear in various attacks.

As the security situation remains tense, it is essential to conduct consistent investigations and find out the background to such crimes. An integrative and educational approach seems to be of great importance here, especially with regard to de-radicalization measures for vulnerable groups.

The developments surrounding the NSU complex as well as the investigations into the supporters and helpers show how important it is to shed light on the various facets of this topic. A clear look at the facts and the legal framework is necessary in order to learn the lessons from the past and work for a secure future.

If you would like to find out more about this topic, visit Rechtslupe, BR and Verfassungsschutz.