Arson attack on Wuppertal synagogue shortly before Yom Kippur
A man has been arrested in Wuppertal on suspicion of an arson attack on the Jewish synagogue, days before Yom Kippur.
Arrest of suspect in arson attack on Wuppertal synagogue
A man has been arrested in Wuppertal on suspicion of an arson attack on the Jewish synagogue of the German city, according to In.gr. According to information, the perpetrator threw containers of flammable liquid at a side entrance of the building, set them on fire, and then fled.
The fire was extinguished quickly, resulting in only limited material damage. No injuries were reported. The criminal investigation department took over the case immediately.
The synagogue is guarded by police for almost the entire twenty-four hours, a fact that likely contributed to the swift identification of the suspect. The police announced that it would make statements about the identity of the arrested person only after the criminal investigation at the scene of the incident is completed.
The attack occurred days before the religious holiday of Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, which is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. This year the holiday runs from the evening of Sunday, 20 September, until sunset on 21 September.
The president of the Central Jewish Council of Germany, Josef Schuster, expressed his deep concern in statements to the Catholic News Agency (KNA). "What shocks me is the chilling composure with which the perpetrator in Wuppertal carried out this attack in broad daylight," Schuster said. "There was no trace of guilt or shame. This behaviour testifies to the gradual normalisation of hatred towards Jews — something to which our society has not yet found an answer."
Schuster emphasised that the timing of the attack with Yom Kippur does not appear to be coincidental, comparing it with corresponding attacks during Hanukkah in Sydney, Yom Kippur in Manchester, as well as with the 2019 attack in Halle. "The pattern of antisemitic violence continues to be characterised by targeting religious holidays, with the aim of spreading fear and the increasing displacement of Jewish life from public spaces," he added.
Regarding the upcoming services, Schuster stressed that "all synagogues will be full" and called on security authorities to ensure the unobstructed practice of religion. "We do not want — and will not — be prevented from practising our religion."
This is not the first time the particular synagogue has been targeted: in July 2014 it had been attacked with Molotov cocktails, for which two people were arrested.
Source: In.gr