When assaults against Turkish shops increased in Germany’s Waldkraiburg region in Bavaria, Islamophobic rightwing extremists were expected to be blamed.
However, the surprise came when the perpetrator was discovered to be a 27-year-old German of Turkish descent. Even more surprising was his confession that he carried out his attacks because of his “hatred of Turks”.
The suspect told investigators that he considers himself an ISIS sympathizer, revealing that he tried to join the terrorist group. He was planning more attacks on Turkish establishments.
He is suspected of carrying out four attacks since April in Waldkraiburg, about 60 kms east of Munich.
Six people were injured in the firebombing of a grocery store, while the other attacks involved stones being thrown through shop windows. He smashed the windows of a barbershop, a restaurant and a snack bar in the town.
Prosecutor Georg Freutsmiedl said the man, who was arrested on Friday, will be charged with 27 cases of attempted murder, serious arson and serious bodily harm.
The suspect was detained by chance after being caught without a valid public transportation ticket.
After searching official records, the police found he was involved in drug-related crimes, so they decided to search him. They found in his possession two pipe bombs and arrested him immediately.
Investigators also found 10 kilograms of a chemical substance in his home that could be used to make bombs. They also seized a pistol, pipe bombs and ammunition.
Although he said in his confessions that he was not involved in the Kurdish conflict with Turkey, yet this story highlights the Turkish-Kurdish tensions in Germany.
In the past, Turkish mosques, shops and restaurants were vandalized and attacked by Kurds. Almost three million Turks live in Germany, about a million of whom are of Kurdish origin.
