05. 03. 10. - 15:00

Facebook group shut as users call for Nazi camp reopening

A Facebook group calling for the "reopening" of Austrian concentration camp Mauthausen was taken offline after winning more than 13,000 members, officials have said.

Political scientist Markus Rachbauer said members of the group called "Child abusers, we’ll reopen Mauthausen for you!" belittled Nazi era crimes.

"People posting messages there called for torture and murder," he said.

Facebook user Antonia F., for example, wrote she would "personally turn up the gas" for child abusers, while others suggested drug dealers, murderers and "social benefits parasites" should be gassed.

Willy Mernyi, head of the Mauthausen Committee Austria (MKÖ), said: "We immediately appealed to Facebook to shut this group down when we heard of its existence."

The Austrian Constitution Protection Authority (BVT) said today (Fri) it was investigating.

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