The attacker shot at the door of the synagogue, trying to force it open. "But the door stayed shut, God protected us." This is how Max Privorozki describes the scenes hours after the assassination in Halle. The chairman of the Jewish community, together with other members, watched the events in the interior of the building in fear. At some point, the 27-year-old suspect from his plans.
Policemen were not attending the synagogue in Halle on the highest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur, to provide security. Max Privorozki sees this as a fundamental problem. "We never have police checks," he said in Halle. Not even at the Hanukkah celebration, the Jewish Festival of Lights, with several hundred people there is police, "although I ask that they come." Unlike in Berlin and Munich, for example, the police are not present in front of the synagogue.
The question is: are Jewish institutions in Germany adequately protected?
Politics and Jewish community are partly different opinions. There is a debate over precautions and staffing. Thus, the countries have their own security regulations met, as a SPIEGEL inquiry with state criminal police (LKA) and Interior Ministries in Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia shows.
In some cases, the police headquarters are responsible for risk assessment and protection, in other countries the National Police Directorate or the LKA itself.
- In Thuringia, for example, according to the Interior Ministry, there is an agreement with the Jewish communities. On public holidays so-called stand posts stand in front of the facilities. Patrol cars also control the Jewish cemeteries. For now, officials are now permanently posted at the facilities. However, a 24-hour surveillance did not exist so far.
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Saxony-Anhalt: Lethal shots in Halle- The Bavarian Ministry of the Interior stated on request that synagogues in Munich were already guarded with fixed police posts during the church service. In addition a regular "streaking" by the police would come at different times around the clock. According to its own information, the Free State has also made available 13 million euros as a subsidy for security investments for structural measures.
- The Hesse LKA did not want to comment specifically. A spokeswoman said: At Jewish institutions, open and covert police protection measures adapted to current threat assessment were carried out. Special events such as holidays would be considered.
Private security with ex-soldiers
Many larger communities also take over the security themselves, for example in Frankfurt. In addition to policemen who guard larger facilities around the clock, the community relies on a private security guard. The staff recruits them from the Israeli military. "We spend a million euros a year on our security team," says Leo Latasch to SPIEGEL. He is responsible for the Jewish community in Frankfurt am Main as a security chief for 6600 members.
Most of the schools, kindergartens and synagogues in their community are now particularly secure. Bulletproof windows, reinforced walls - the community is building a new school, which alone accounts for 20 percent of the costs.
But smaller communities could not afford it, says Latasch. They usually received only special protection on holidays. Then the police drive patrol there.
But consistent protection is not.
Wolfgang Mini / picture alliance
Security Officer Latasch: "We spend a million euros a year for our security team"
Latasch wants to go back to the country and ask for more financial support. "The costs are just too high."
In his view, hatred in society has increased even more in recent years, not just toward Jews. "The AfD opened the Pandora's box here." In politics, he misses a corresponding reaction. Also with Chancellor Angela Merkel. "It is a shame that we have to make such security arrangements and that politics does not react."
Recently, the authorities have recorded a significant increase in so-called hate crime against Jews. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the total number of crimes increased from around 1,500 in 2017 to around 1,800 last year - the second highest level since the start of the comparable survey in 2001.
