The Neukölln Complex: City Failed to Prevent Violent Far-Right Attacks
After more than 70 attacks over 12 years ended with just two convictions, the investigation into Berlin's 'Neukölln Complex' finds deep failures in police and prosecution, but few consequences.
The group that has come to be known as the Neukölln Complex had a very clear purpose: carrying out violent attacks on people who organise against the far right, on immigrants and on the children of immigrants. More than 70 criminal offences were attributed to the group between 2009 and 2021, ranging from targeted threats to arsons. And, for the victims, there was a clear sense that no one in the security services wanted to hear about it.
In 2018, Ferat Koçak of Die Linke awoke to find his car in flames, the fire spreading towards the house where he and his parents were sleeping.
Those attacks have now been the subject of a four-year parliamentary inquiry. But as that investigation came to a close this week, it seems not all of the participating parties can agree on how to interpret its findings — with various groups releasing different statements about the takeaways, and leaving the inquiry with no final agreed-upon report.