Authorities in the city of Wuppertal, Germany, announced that they have begun an investigation into an arson attack on a local synagogue. This investigation is being led by the prosecutor's office and follows the arrest of a 37-year-old Afghan man near the scene of the incident.
Details of the incident and arrest
The man was quickly arrested by security forces due to statements he made that indicated anti-Semitic motives. Weapons were also discovered during a search of his apartment. He is facing legal action for attempted arson and is expected to appear in court.
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The fire was quickly extinguished by a member of the synagogue, and as a result, no one was harmed and the damage to the structure of the synagogue was minimal. According to the Wuppertal prosecutor's office, police officers were able to temporarily detain this individual while on security patrol in the area.
Investigations and possible motives
Background investigations are continuing "intensively," and authorities have stated that there is evidence regarding the motive for the attack. During his arrest, the individual made statements indicating anti-Semitic motives for this crime. In addition to reviewing surveillance camera footage, officials have also analyzed the suspect's mobile phone data.
According to authorities, this Afghan citizen has a history of threatening a female neighbor as well. Several knives and a handgun were discovered during the search of his apartment, which were accessible to him.
Following this incident, about 30 people gathered in an informal demonstration in front of the synagogue on Thursday night to show their solidarity. The Central Council of Jews in Germany also condemned this attack, calling it concerning ahead of the Jewish religious holiday Yom Kippur, which takes place on September 20 and 21.
Josef Schuster, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, stated: "Once again, an attack has occurred on a synagogue during an important Jewish holiday. What worries me more is that the perpetrator carried out this attack calmly in public view and showed no signs of shame or awareness of the wrongness of his actions."
The city of Wuppertal, with a population of about 350,000, is located east of Düsseldorf in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
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