SS suspect, nearly 90, faces trial

More than 30,000 Jews died at the Czech transit camp Terezin, also known by its German name of Theresienstadt. Czech prosecutors have been trying to decide whether to charge Malloth, but that may not be necessary if he stands trial in Germany.

In October, an individual claiming to have witnessed the murder testified against Malloth in Prague.

Malloth was sentenced to death in absentia by a Czech court in 1948 for killing prisoners at Terezin, but the country's Communist authorities later quashed the sentence.

After Malloth fled Czechoslovakia at the war's end, he lived in Italy until authorities there expelled him to Germany in 1988, according to news reports. Authorities in the German state of Bavaria then granted him citizenship.

German prosecutors have examined allegations against Malloth relating to Terezin on three previous occasions without bringing charges.

Czech Jewish leaders and relatives of the Nazi's other victims welcomed news of Malloth's arrest.

"This is a very positive development," said Tomas Kraus, executive director of the Czech Federation of Jewish Communities. "But we will have to see what impact this will have."

The news was also good for Peter Finkelgruen, who said his grandfather was beaten to death by Malloth in December 1942.

Speaking from his home in Germany, Finkelgruen, who wrote a book about Malloth in 1992 called "German House," said he was "surprised and satisfied" by the arrest.

The move by German prosecutors came shortly after their Czech counterparts, who have also been examining Malloth's case, expressed little optimism that Malloth would ever be brought to justice.

Hours before Malloth's arrest became public, Czech Regional Prosecutor Jan Jakovec said it would take until at least October before a decision would be reached in the Czech Republic on whether to prosecute Malloth.

Jakovec, who was clearly unaware of Malloth's arrest, said: "It would be a great success if Malloth were to be actually accused. There would be some satisfaction, even only if Malloth were to read in the newspapers that he is to be prosecuted in the Czech Republic."

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