Foreign Minister Davutoglu likens neo-Nazi murders to Susurluk case

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has likened nine murders perpetrated by neo-Nazis in Germany over the last decade to Turkey's Susurluk affair -- a 1996 car crash that led to the discovery of ties between the police, politicians and the world of crime. Davutoglu, who went to Germany on Thursday for a five-day visit to mark the 50th anniversary of a migration of Turks to Germany, told Turkish journalists while flying en route to Hamburg that the murders of eight Turks and one Greek individual, the cases of which were initially thought to be separate, were be linked by the German police to a neo-Nazi gang as a result of mere coincidence, not unlike the accident in Turkey when a truck hit a Mercedes in the township of Susurluk in 1996 and brought to light dirty dealings between politicians, the mafia and the police. Germany's neo-Nazi murderers were found out only when two of them, who were wanted in relation to a bank robbery, killed themselves and another turned herself in, fearing she would not be able to get away. The initial investigation revealed that Germany's intelligence agency had been watching every move by the group and probably knew about the murders. "If the apartment had not been burned," said Davutoglu in reference to the neo-Nazi suspect who lit her apartment on fire in an attempt to burn evidence before surrendering, and continued: "If a racist terrorist had not confessed [to the murders], the connection wouldn't have been made. It all revealed a neo-Nazi network. It is like the Susurluk accident. There was an accident and then everything spilt out of the bag." He noted that Islamophobia, as Turkish officials have often warned, has become a real threat for Europe, which has seen Islam as a fundamental threat since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US. "They feel that the world would be a more peaceful place if it wasn't for Muslims. The incident in Norway and the neo-Nazi murders in Germany have shown that this is clearly not true. This approach will not bring Germany or Europe peace. Germany has to do some silent yet very profound soul-searching for something to come out of this." Davutoglu also noted that what is known about the gang is only the tip of the iceberg. "Why were these murders being committed? This is what has to be investigated. Goethe emphasized the disciplined ways of the German nation. We hope to see that kind of German discipline in the investigations into these murders," he said.