Suspected antisemitic attack in Würzburg: 65-year-old man beaten for wearing Israel pin

The pin symbolizes solidarity with Israel. That seemed reason enough to attack the man and seriously injure him. Photo: Political-Moments/imago

By Frederik Eikmanns

A 65-year-old man was seriously injured in a suspected antisemitic attack in Würzburg, Bavaria. Police arrested a 20-year-old Syrian as the suspect. The attacker is alleged to have punched the victim in the face during the night leading up to Monday. When the man fell, the suspect reportedly continued to kick him in the head.

The trigger for the attack was likely a pin bearing the Israeli flag that the 65-year-old was wearing. The victim was initially placed in intensive care and continues to receive inpatient treatment.

Investigation and Charges

The Munich Public Prosecutor General's Office has taken over the case and is investigating on suspicion of attempted murder in conjunction with dangerous bodily harm. A press release cited "indications of a religiously motivated act or an anti-Israel or antisemitic motive."

According to investigators, a verbal altercation first broke out on the street between the victim and the suspect over the pin. The 20-year-old then allegedly punched and kicked the man, breaking one of his vertebrae among other injuries.

Police officers who rushed to the scene overpowered and arrested the attacker. The suspect was reportedly already known as a violent offender and is said to have harassed guests at a market festival just hours before the attack.

Reactions and Condolences

The victim was a member of the German-Israeli Society (DIG). Its Würzburg branch wrote on Instagram: "We stand in full solidarity with our seriously injured member."

DIG Chairman Volker Beck stated: "Our thoughts are with the victim, his family, and his friends," and called for "a swift and harsh punishment of the perpetrator."

Annette Seidel-Arpacı, head of the Bavarian RIAS reporting center for antisemitic incidents, said: "This brutal attack unfortunately once again illustrates the antisemitic disinhibition of recent years." She demanded: "Antisemitic calls and crimes must be consistently countered."

Marlene Schönberger, responsible for combating antisemitism in the Green Party parliamentary group, told taz: "My solidarity goes out to the victim of the brutal attack." She noted that the case shows "that the antisemitic and anti-Israel climate in the country can turn into uninhibited violence at any time."

Clara Bünger, interior policy spokesperson for the Left Party parliamentary group, told taz: "I condemn the antisemitic attack in Würzburg in the strongest possible terms. There is no justification for this violence whatsoever."