Hours after the fatal attack in Halle, the Central Council of Jews has been critical of the political mood in the country. The attack was a new quality of right-wing extremism in Germany, said Josef Schuster, president of the organization on Deutschlandfunk. The attack on the synagogue changed the feeling of Jewish people in Germany. "It is worrying."
Schuster went on to say that he sees a political development that promotes right-wing extremism. Therefore, the act was not entirely unexpected.
Schuster had previously reproached the police severely: "The fact that the synagogue in Halle was not protected by the police on a holiday like Yom Kippur is scandalous," said Schuster. "This negligence has now avenged itself bitterly." Only happy circumstances would have prevented a massacre, said Schuster in Würzburg.
Video from Halle: "Like a ghost town"
MIRROR ONLINE
At the time of the attack, according to the Jewish community, 70 to 80 people were in the synagogue. They celebrated together the highest Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. The perpetrator did not succeed in gaining access to the synagogue. He shot at passersby, two people died, several were injured. The police were able to arrest the alleged perpetrator (read more here).
The chairman of the Jewish Community in Halle described to several media how the people in the synagogue watched over a camera, how the attacker wanted to gain access to the building.
"The man looked like a special unit"
"We have seen through the camera of our synagogue that a heavily armed offender with a steel helmet and rifle has tried to open our doors," said Max Privorozki the "Stuttgarter Zeitung". "The man looked like a special force," he said. "But our doors have held." The perpetrator also tried to shoot open the gate of the nearby Jewish cemetery, the chairman said.
"The spiral of violence has developed significantly," Michel Friedman told ZDF. The former chairman of the Central Council of Jews also described the political climate and anti-Semitism as a "serious structural problem".
Gali Tibbon / DPA
Benjamin Netanyahu
In Israel, the deadly attack caused deep concern: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a "further expression of anti-Semitism in Europe." The act took place on the "holiest day for our people," he said in a statement.
"I urge the authorities in Germany to continue resolutely against the phenomenon of anti-Semitism," said Netanyahu. "In the name of the people of Israel, I offer my condolences to the families of the victims and wish the injured a speedy recovery."
"Acts instead of words"
The Jewish World Congress called for better protection for Jewish institutions in Germany. "Unfortunately, the time has come when all Jewish prayer houses and other Jewish institutions need increased security from state security forces," said Ronald Lauder, chairman. "Acts instead of words" are needed.
After the "horrific" attack, Lauder called for "a united front against neo-Nazi and extremist groups."
