Suspect Arrested for German Synagogue Arson Attack Ahead of Yom Kippur

A 37-year-old Afghan man has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to the Bergische Synagogue in Wuppertal, western Germany, on Thursday afternoon, three days before Yom Kippur. According to prosecutors cited by the German Press Agency (DPA), the suspect made antisemitic remarks at the scene.

The man is believed to have thrown two bags containing flammable liquid at the synagogue, poured the contents of a third bag near a side entrance, and then ignited the liquid. Synagogue staff managed to extinguish the flames quickly, and the alleged arsonist fled the scene. No injuries were reported.

The suspect has a prior conviction for threatening a neighbor, according to prosecutors.

The mayor of Wuppertal condemned the attack as "utterly despicable" and urged residents to show solidarity with the Jewish community. Several Jewish organizations also denounced the incident.

"The timing is particularly disturbing as Jewish communities prepare for the holiest day of the Jewish calendar," the European Jewish Congress said in a statement. "Attacks timed around Jewish holidays are part of a pattern intended to spread fear and push Jewish life out of the public sphere." The organization added, "Jews must be able to enter a synagogue, practice their faith and celebrate the High Holidays safely and without fear."

US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun stated on X that while the attack was an attempt to instill fear, "It will not succeed." He also thanked local authorities for the swift arrest and added, "Education cannot just be about the past; it must teach us not to hate in the future."

Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal of the Chabad community in Berlin described the attack as "deeply shocking" and called for individuals to "stand up against hatred and aggression and to be an ambassador of light and tolerance."

The Berlin office of the American Jewish Committee called for an urgent strengthening of security measures.

The Bergische Synagogue was previously targeted in 2014. At that time, three Palestinians were convicted after confessing to throwing incendiary objects at the building.