The deeds had provoked outrage in Germany: On Friday in Zwickau, Saxony, a commemorative tree had been sawn off to commemorate the first murder victim of the "National Socialist Underground" (NSU). At the weekend, strangers smashed a wooden bench erected in Simsek's honor.
Now the city reacts, wants to replace the sawn-off commemorative tree. "We will not let us down," said Zwickau Mayor Pia Findeiß (SPD). Also for the nine other victims of the right-wing extremist terror cell NSU one wanted to plant trees as planned. The city is setting up a donation account for the project.
The florist Enver Simsek died in September 2000, he was murdered in his car. The right-wing terrorists Uwe Mundlos and Uwe Böhnhardt had shot him nine times - two days later, Simsek died of his injuries. He was the first of ten victims of the NSU terror cell. For his family, the loss is omnipresent to this day.
In memory of Simsek, a German oak was planted on 8th September in Schwanenteichpark in Zwickau. Nine more trees should follow. But on Friday unknown sawed off the oak. A wooden bench erected on the same day, which was to commemorate Simsek, was also destroyed.
Since the incidents became public, many Zwickauers have planted and planted flowers in the Schwanenteichpark. On Monday afternoon, around 120 people recalled the NSU victim with a minute's silence at the site.
