Two petrol bombs were thrown into a synagogue in Berlin, jolting the Jewish community amid an increase in antisemitic crimes in various European countries.
According to police, two people tossed “burning bottles filled with liquid” in what was described as an arson attempt.
The community has experienced increasing tensions and threats in recent days, according to director Anna Segal, the Executive Director of the Kahal Adass Jisroel community in Berlin-Mitte who stated that they are on edge and need better protection, recognizing that it is only a matter of time and it’s not the end.”
According to Anna Segal, the situation has been rising throughout the last week and on Tuesday after Israel’s conflict and hospital broke out. We are becoming increasingly aware of the city’s conflicts. We feel the tensions and unsafe in the city more and more.
During the nightly anti-Israel protests in Berlin, violence broke out elsewhere. According to authorities, there was an attack on emergency services at the Brandenburg Gate.
The most recent attacks occurred as Hezbollah, a militant organisation supported by Iran in Lebanon, declared a “day of rage” in response to an explosion at a Gaza Strip hospital that is feared to have killed hundreds of people.
According to the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the term “day of rage” refers to “psychological terror that leads to concrete attacks” rather than only a phrase. In addition, the synagogue has a community center, a kindergarten, and a secondary school with 130 students.
Police in Germany are currently protecting Jewish institutions following an attack on a synagogue, with a man detained after shouting anti-Israel slogans.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been prohibited in France and Germany. Last week, police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse a prohibited gathering in the heart of Paris.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, stated before the European Parliament on Wednesday that Hamas terror had sparked a fresh cycle of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
“We are seeing a rise in anti-Semitic incidents, including here in Europe. Synagogues have been vandalised. Hate speech and fake news are spreading at a worrying speed. And this is something that we simply cannot accept,” Leyen said.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the rise in racial discrimination against Jews in the UK as “disgusting”.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a British charity whose purpose is to provide safety and security to the Jewish community in the UK, urged institutions to respond “swiftly and firmly” to antisemitism and protect Jewish students. The CST reported 36 antisemitic incidents on different campuses in the UK between October 7 and 16.
