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Synagogue in Halle: Stephan Balliet is on trial almost a year after the attack
Photo: Hendrik Schmidt / dpa
In October 2019, Stephan Balliet wanted to commit mass murder in the Halle synagogue.
Back then the door of the house of God held him back.
Police officers were not there at the time of the crime to ensure safety on Yom Kippur, the highest Jewish holiday.
The Central Council of Jews called the lack of police protection "scandalous".
Now the federal government is providing an additional 22 million euros to protect Jewish institutions.
As announced by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, a corresponding supplementary agreement to the contract between the Federal Republic and the Central Council of Jews in Germany was signed the day before.
The aim is to raise the security measures to a national level.
"Jews must be able to live safely in Germany. That is German reasons of state," said Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU).
"The Jewish community can rely on the federal government doing everything possible to guarantee the necessary protection. We are aware of our responsibility."
Central Council President Josef Schuster pointed out that spending on security for Jewish communities often meant a considerable financial burden.
"However, the Halle attack made it clear to us that Jewish life needs massive protection," said Schuster.
He welcomed the Federal Government's commitment in this regard.
After the attack on the synagogue in Halle for anti-Semitic motives, the federal and state governments agreed last December to supplement the extensive measures taken to protect Jewish life and to combat anti-Semitism.
"To this end, the Jewish communities are being financially supported in the rapid implementation of the necessary structural and technical security measures," said the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
"By signing the annex agreement, the federal government is reaffirming its claim to resolutely oppose any form of anti-Semitism as an attack on our free democratic basic order," the statement said.
The Federal Government feels that it has a special obligation to the Jewish community "and opposes all tendencies towards forgetting or concealing the National Socialist genocide of the Jews".
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