A fire broke out at the Bergische Synagogue, also known as the New Synagogue, in Wuppertal, western Germany, on Thursday afternoon. The synagogue, which was opened in 2002, suffered no damage and no one was injured. According to police, an accelerant was used to start the fire at a side entrance, but it was quickly extinguished by members of the synagogue. Police were alerted to the incident and a suspicious man was detained near the scene shortly after.
The police have not provided further details on the possible motives behind the attack. The criminal police and the state security division have been brought in to investigate, and forensics officers were at the scene to gather evidence. Wuppertal is approximately 30 kilometres east of Dusseldorf. The incident has been widely condemned, with many officials expressing concern about the rise of anti-Semitic violence.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany has called the incident an "arson attack" and expressed concern about the timing. The holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, starts on Sunday evening and ends Monday night, and many synagogues will be full. Central Council President Josef Schuster said that the attack was a disturbing example of the progressive normalization of hatred of Jews.
Schuster noted that the perpetrator carried out the attack in broad daylight, showing a lack of awareness of wrongdoing or shame. He also referenced other recent attacks on Jewish targets, such as the December 2025 Hanukkah shooting in Sydney and incidents on Yom Kippur in Manchester last year and Germany's Halle in 2019. Schuster argued that these attacks were not chosen by chance and that there is a pattern of anti-Semitic violence targeting Jewish holidays.
The Orthodox Rabbinical Conference Germany also condemned the attack, saying that anyone who attacks Jewish life is attacking democracy. The conference emphasized that Jews must be able to live safely in Germany and practise their faith visibly without fear or threat. The synagogue was previously attacked in 2014, when three Palestinians were convicted of throwing incendiary devices at the building.
The suspects in the 2014 attack said they wanted to draw attention to the Gaza conflict. Two of them, aged 24 and 29, were given suspended sentences of varying length in early 2015 for attempted aggravated arson. An 18-year-old was sentenced under juvenile law to a suspended sentence without a specific penalty. The latest incident has raised concerns about the safety of Jewish communities in Germany.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with many officials calling for greater security measures to protect Jewish targets. The German authorities have a duty to ensure the safety of services, according to Schuster. The incident highlights the need for continued vigilance and cooperation to prevent anti-Semitic violence.
Key points
- The fire was quickly extinguished by members of the synagogue, and no one was injured.
- The Central Council of Jews in Germany has called the incident an "arson attack" and expressed concern about the timing.
- The synagogue was previously attacked in 2014, when three Palestinians were convicted of throwing incendiary devices at the building.
