Arson attack on synagogue in Wuppertal: 37-year-old Afghan arrested
A man attempted to set fire to a synagogue in Wuppertal-Barmen on Thursday afternoon. The suspect was arrested within minutes and no one was injured.
Attack on Wuppertal synagogue shortly before Yom Kippur
A 37-year-old Afghan man attempted to set fire to the synagogue in Wuppertal-Barmen on Thursday afternoon. The suspect was arrested within minutes, and no one was injured, reported t-online.de citing a police spokesperson.
Around 2 p.m., the man attacked a side entrance of the synagogue with an inflammable liquid. According to Jüdische Allgemeinen, he reportedly threw several bags containing the liquid. A fire broke out briefly, but was quickly extinguished by members of the synagogue. Material damage remained minimal.
In the evening, police clarified that the suspect was a 37-year-old man of Afghan origin who was known to police. No information was initially available regarding a motive. The constitutional protection authority took over further investigations.
The president of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, expressed deep shock. "What deeply disturbs me is the composure with which the perpetrator carried out this attack in Wuppertal in broad daylight," he said in a written statement.
Schuster sees no coincidence in the choice of timing. He pointed to the Chanukah 2025 attack in Sydney, the Yom Kippur 2025 attack in Manchester, and the 2019 attack in Halle. "The pattern remains one of antisemitic violence, choosing holidays to spread fear and further drive Jewish life from the public sphere," he said.
Yom Kippur, the highest Jewish holiday, begins next Sunday. On this strict fasting day, observant Jews gather in the synagogue throughout the entire day for prayer. Schuster called on authorities to ensure the security of services: "The security authorities have a duty to act."
Source: Google News LU DE