Heidi Hazell

Heidi Hazell (* September 24, 1962 in Worpswede as Heidi Schnaars ; † September 7, 1989 in Unna ) was a German citizen murder victim of the IRA .

In 1986 she married the British soldier Clive Anthony Hazell, who was stationed in Germany. On September 7, 1989, members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) spied on the German national in Unna and shot her. She was killed by twelve bullets from a Kalashnikov assault rifle. The perpetrator, who according to eyewitnesses was dressed in a British military uniform, escaped with an accomplice in a dark car. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher spoke about the attack during a visit to Forres Academy . Describing the attack as cowardly and vicious, she said: “Let this news get through: Terrorists do not stop at attacking wives and children; People who are completely innocent. This shows the evil motives. "

Investigations

The Attorney General was investigating known Irish members of the terrorist cell. In the course of the searches, control posts for trawling were set up, at which the cabaret artist Dietrich Kittner was also checked on November 28, 1989 in Mülheim / Ruhr. The Green Party then made a request to the federal government . In its response, the federal government lists, among other things, the murder of Heidi Hazell as a reason for the need for the control posts. The murder of Heidi Hazell was the second attack in the shortest possible time, in the same week two British soldiers were shot in Munster. The investigation into Heidi Hazell's murder ended in 1993.

Confession letter

In the confessional letter published in Dublin, the IRA expressed itself as follows: An IRA ASU (Active Service Unit) carried out the shooting last night in West Germany. It was believed that the woman killed was a member of the British Crown Forces stationed in Dortmund. Now it turns out that she was the German wife of a British Army Staff Sergeant. As we will continue our campaign until the British Army withdraws from Ireland, last night's attack reinforces our August 2, 1988 warning that civilians should stay away from British military personnel. This warning applies to the private vehicles of British soldiers and all types of military transport.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams commented on the assassinations of civilians in Germany, such as those on Heidi Hazell, James and Ellen Sefton or Nivruti Islania, the six-month-old daughter of a British soldier: “There is no doubt about it, like Sinn Fein stands for the attacks. I don't want to see anyone killed, especially a 19 year old teenage soldier, Australian or Irish citizen, but there is a conflict. A war is being fought, people join armies to fight. "

Resumption of the investigation

In March 2015, the Attorney General resumed the investigation into the murder of Heidi Hazell on the grounds that new information from the surviving relatives of the killed would result in new investigative approaches. The victim's niece said she was able to find new information and new witnesses.

See also

• List of attacks by the Provisional Irish Republican Army

Individual evidence

1. ↑ "Answer Federal Government" , Federal Government , January 15, 1990, accessed on April 15, 2015.
2. ↑ "of responsibility" , AP news . September 8, 1989, accessed April 15, 2015.
3. ↑ Murder inquiry reopens . BBC News , April 8, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
4. ^ WDR report IRA murder case resumed . WDR , May 20, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2016.