Death Camp Guard’s Detention Extended
An Israeli judge ordered John Demjanjuk, accused of being the notorious Nazi death camp guard “Ivan the Terrible,” jailed for 15 more days Friday while authorities examine evidence the hated guard was actually killed in a Jewish revolt in 1943.
Israeli authorities have formally charged Demjanjuk of being the Nazi guard who forced hundreds of thousands of Jews into the gas chambers at Treblinka death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland in 1942 and 1943.
But in recent weeks, evidence has surfaced showing “Ivan the Terrible” was killed in a revolt at Treblinka in 1943, casting doubt on the case against the retired Cleveland auto worker extradited to Israel on Feb. 28.
Jerusalem Magistrate Aharon Simha said the evidence indicating “Ivan the Terrible” is dead is not conclusive and granted a police request to hold Demjanjuk for an additional 15 days.
“Because of the need to probe and examine these things, the other material in police hands accumulating from these sources, it is necessary and justified to continue the suspect’s arrest another 15 days,” Simha said.
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