A 37-year-old Afghan man was arrested in Germany on Thursday on suspicion of trying to set fire to a synagogue in Wuppertal, western Germany, just days before Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
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According to German media reports, the suspect allegedly threw bags containing flammable liquid at the Bergische Synagogue, poured more of the liquid near a side entrance and set it ablaze.
Members of the Jewish community managed to extinguish the flames within minutes, preventing the fire from spreading. No injuries were reported.
Suspect allegedly made antisemitic remarks
German prosecutors said the man allegedly made antisemitic remarks at the scene, according to the German Press Agency (DPA). Police said preliminary investigations indicated that he acted alone.
The suspect fled after setting the liquid on fire but was later arrested. He has a previous conviction for threatening a neighbour, DPA reported.
Wuppertal Mayor Johannes Slawig condemned the incident as “utterly despicable” and called for solidarity with the city's Jewish community.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany also condemned the suspected attack, with its president Josef Schuster describing it as evidence of what he called the “progressive normalization of hatred towards Jews” in Germany.
Synagogue had been targeted in 2014
The European Jewish Congress said the timing of the incident was particularly disturbing as Jewish communities prepare for Yom Kippur. It called for Jews to be able to practise their faith and observe the High Holidays safely.
US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun thanked local authorities for swiftly arresting the suspect, saying the attack would not succeed in spreading fear among Jews.
The Bergische Synagogue was previously targeted in 2014, when three Palestinians were convicted after admitting to throwing incendiary objects at the building, according to DPA.
The latest incident comes as Germany continues to deal with concerns over antisemitic attacks and crimes.
