Afghan National Arrested for Arson Attempt at Wuppertal Synagogue
A 37-year-old Afghan national was arrested in Wuppertal, Germany, after attempting to set fire to the Bergische Synagogue. Jewish leaders condemned the antisemitic attack.
A 37-year-old Afghan national was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of starting a fire at the entrance of the Bergische Synagogue in the western German city of Wuppertal. Community members managed to extinguish the blaze quickly, resulting in minor damage to the building and no injuries. Police detained the suspect nearby and launched an investigation into the incident.
According to Wuppertal police, the suspect approached the synagogue in the Barmen district around 2:00 PM, poured a flammable liquid on the entrance steps, and ignited it. Authorities stated that the 37-year-old is known to law enforcement and preliminary findings indicate he acted alone. The synagogue is regularly guarded by police, and security forces are continuing to investigate the motive behind the attack.
Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, condemned the incident as an arson attack and warned against what he termed the progressive normalization of antisemitism. Schuster noted that the attack occurred just days before Yom Kippur and urged security authorities to ensure the safety of worshippers at synagogues across the country.
This is not the first time the Wuppertal synagogue has been targeted. In 2014, petrol bombs were hurled at the building, leading to the conviction of three young men of Palestinian origin. The incident comes against the backdrop of rising antisemitic offenses in Germany, where federal police recorded thousands of hate crimes in recent years.
