In a declaration adopted by all the parties in the German parliament, the Bundestag, speaker Norbert Lammert on Tuesday solemnly apologized for lapses by domestic intelligence agencies that allowed a neo-Nazi gang to kill over a seven-year period.

As the members of the assembly stood to attention, Lammert read out a statement: "We are ashamed that state and federal security authorities neither solved nor prevented crimes that were being planned and carried out over a period of years. We recognize our responsibility. We must ensure that the basic rights guaranteed in the constitution apply to everyone living here, regardless of their origin, beliefs or orientation."

Parliament unanimously urged a speedy investigation of the killing spree, as well as an examination of the structure of Germany's intelligence and security agencies.

Critics say the agencies and police forces have been too focused on Islamic and leftist extremism, allowing neo-Nazis to operate unchecked.

The self-styled National Socialist Underground (NSU) was exposed earlier this month when two of its three core members died in a shooting. The three, who had lived under false identities since 1998, are believed responsible for the unsolved murders of nine immigrant shopkeepers between 2000 and 2006 as well as a policewoman in 2007. Various state and regional law enforcement agencies had failed to connect the murders to far-right extremism.

A scandal

Opposition parties slammed Chancellor Angela Merkel's government for playing down the neo-Nazi threat.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, parliamentary leader of the opposition Social Democrats, criticized the practice of paying leading members to inform security agencies on the secret activities of neo-Nazi groups.

"The ones we were supposed to be fighting were being given masses of money," he said. "That is a scandal."

The Green Party co-leader in parliament, Renate Künast, said the agencies were now in a "crisis over their justification." She said the agencies had concentrated too much on left-wing extremism and had overlooked the neo-Nazi threat.

Embarassing deficits

Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger admitted mistakes were made, but said the country's security forces had both eyes open - a reference to the accusation that the agencies turned a blind eye to threats from the right.

Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich told parliament that work was progressing on government plans for a national register of militant neo-Nazis that would pool data from agencies and police in the 16 states.

Meanwhile, new details have emerged about one of the killings for which the motive has so far been a mystery. The head of the German Federal Criminal Agency, Jörg Zierke, said that, although the circumstances were unclear, contrary to initial assumptions, it appeared that a policewoman allegedly murdered by the gang was not a random victim, and information was emerging suggesting some relationship between her and members of the group.

The murders have reignited the debate in Germany as to whether to ban the far-right NPD party: many leading members of the party are known to have active links with the violent far-right fringe.

Author: Dagmar Breitenbach (dpa, AFP, AP)
Editor: Michael Lawton