Keupstrasse: Commemoration of NSU victims without a memorial - politicians have a duty!

Keupstrasse: Commemoration of NSU victims without a memorial - politicians have a duty!

On June 10, 2025, one day after the 21st anniversary of the devastating nail bomb attack on Cologne's Keupstrasse, over 250 people gathered to remember the victims. The attack, which was carried out on June 9, 2004 and injured 22 people, including four seriously, is attributed to the right-wing terrorist group National Socialist Underground (NSU). At the memorial event, Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker and Turkish Consul General Hüseyin Kantem laid wreaths at the crime scene. This shows how deeply the pain over this event is still rooted in the community in which many people with a Turkish migrant background live and work.

How ksta.de reports, the survivors and relatives of the victims repeatedly have to deal with the traumatic memories of the attack, which took place on Keupstrasse, a center of Turkish business life. Mohammet Ayazgün, a survivor, addressed those present during the ceremony and spoke on behalf of those affected. His message was clear: “We are not quiet.”

Remembering the past

The attack was carried out with a remotely detonated nail bomb consisting of a butane gas bottle, 5.5 kg of black powder and 800 carpenter's nails. This 18 kg bomb caused not only physical but also immense psychological damage. The Kuaför Özcan hair salon and numerous shops and parked cars were significantly damaged. The incident is viewed by many as a “second attack” because the police initially suspected the victims themselves instead of recognizing the racist background. It was only in 2011 that the right-wing extremist origin of the attack became clear through an NSU confessional video.

One topic that shaped the discussions at the memorial event was the long-discussed construction of a memorial on Keupstrasse. The interest group (IG) Keupstrasse has been fighting for this for over a decade. A design for the memorial was selected in 2016, but despite a plot of land that has existed since 2021, it has not yet been implemented. The chairman of the IG, Bünyamin Köksoy, called for a place of remembrance to finally be created for those affected. Mayor Reker expressed her wish that the memorial would be realized soon and emphasized that the property was privately owned and that demolition of the existing building should begin this year.

The wounds are deep

The discussion about a memorial reflects how important it is to finally give the victims and their families the recognition and space they deserve. Consul General Hüseyin Kantem pointed out that Keupstrasse has now become a symbol of resistance. He praised the community's persistence in working towards a positive future despite the traumatic experiences.

Despite the progress that has been made in dealing with the NSU complex, the question of knowledge and respect for the victims and their families remains crucial. The nail bomb attack on Keupstrasse is a reminder of the dangers that prejudice and racism can bring. Remembering the victims and survivors is a necessary step towards a respectful and just society.