Spy chief admits failings over neo-Nazi killers

The head of Germany’s domestic spy agency has admitted his office made mistakes that allowed a small neo-Nazi group to operate under the radar on a seven-year spree in which they are suspected of killing nine immigrants and a policewoman.

Heinz Fromm, who has already submitted his resignation over the case, told a special parliamentary commission there were serious shortcomings in the investigation.

“This is a serious defeat for the German security services,” said Mr Fromm, who steps down at the end of this month.

The National Socialist Underground is suspected of killing eight Turkish men and a Greek between 2000 and 2006 and a policewoman in 2007. For years, authorities suspected organised crime rather than racist violence.

Mr Fromm said information had not been shared well enough between the state and federal offices of his agency.

In the end, simple police work uncovered the group’s existence.

After a failed bank robbery in November, police tracked the group’s suspected founders, Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos, to a mobile home. Both were found dead there in an apparent murder-suicide. A third alleged core member, Beate Zschaepe, turned herself in and remains in custody pending trial.