Man Arrested After Synagogue Fire Attempt in Germany
German police have arrested a 37-year-old man suspected of trying to set fire to a synagogue in Wuppertal, just days before the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.
The incident happened Thursday afternoon at the Bergische Synagogue in Wuppertal-Barmen. According to police, the suspect spread a flammable liquid on the steps near a side entrance and set it on fire.
Members of the synagogue were able to put out the flames quickly. No one was injured, and the damage was limited, according to police.
Police said the suspect is an Afghan national who was already known to authorities. He was arrested near the scene shortly after the incident. Investigators believe he acted alone, although the investigation is still underway. The state security division has taken over the case.
Police have not announced a motive. The timing of the incident has drawn attention because Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, begins in three days.
Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, condemned the attack and called for strong security measures around upcoming Jewish services. Jewish organizations in Germany have also spoken out against the incident.
The Wuppertal synagogue has been targeted before. In 2014, it was attacked with Molotov cocktails. The current investigation will determine what motivated Thursday’s attack and whether the incident was connected to the upcoming Jewish holiday.
For now, police are continuing to collect evidence and question the suspect.
