Probe into deadly Oktoberfest attack re-opened

The federal prosecutors' office in Karlsruhe announced on Thursday that it had reopened an investigation into the 1980 bombing of the popular beer festival (memorial pictured above) that left 13 people dead and around 200 others injured.

A statement posted on the office's website said Chief Prosecutor Harald Range had decided to reopen the case after a previously unknown witness had emerged. The statement said prosecutors would not limit themselves to the evidence provided by the female witness, but would "pursue all leads … new and comprehensively."

The original investigation found that 21-year-old Gundolf Köhler, a university student who was a former member of a far-right group, was the person who deposited the bomb in a rubbish bin at the main entrance to the Oktoberfest grounds. Köhler was among those killed when the bomb went off shortly after he placed it in the bin.

Investigators also looked into possible accomplices in extreme right circles but were unable to uncover enough concrete evidence to bring charges against any suspects.

Prosecutors believe the new witness may be able to shed light on the identities of possible accomplices.

The original investigation into what was the Federal Republic of Germany's worst single far-right terror attack was closed in November 1982.

Over the years, representatives of victims and some politicians have publicly cast doubt on the idea that the bomber could have acted alone.

pfd/lw (AFP, dpa)