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Arson attack on Wuppertal synagogue ahead of Yom Kippur; Jewish leader warns of normalized hatred
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An arson attack was carried out on Thursday afternoon against the synagogue of the Jewish Religious Community in Wuppertal, Germany. According to police, someone attempted to set a fire at a side entrance; the blaze was quickly extinguished, causing only minor property damage and no injuries. A suspect has been arrested, and the criminal investigation department is handling the case. The attack occurred just before Yom Kippur, the highest Jewish holiday, which begins on the evening of September 20. Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, expressed deep concern, stating that the timing was not chosen by chance. He noted the perpetrator's calmness in broad daylight as evidence of the ongoing normalization of hatred towards Jews. Schuster emphasized that antisemitic violence often targets holidays to spread fear and push Jewish life out of the public sphere. He called on security authorities to ensure the safety of Yom Kippur services, affirming that the community will not be prevented from practicing its religion. The attack recalls previous incidents, including the 2014 arson on the same synagogue, the Chanukah attacks in Sydney in 2025, the Yom Kippur attack in Manchester in 2025, and the 2019 attack in Halle.
Source report
Source: picture alliance/Zoonar/Stefan Ziese
An arson attack was carried out on Thursday afternoon against the synagogue of the Jewish Religious Community of Wuppertal. According to initial findings, someone attempted to set a fire at a side entrance of the building, a police spokesperson told the Evangelical Press Service.
The fire was quickly extinguished and caused only minor property damage. No one was injured. Police have arrested a suspect, and the criminal investigation department has taken over the inquiries.
Central Council President Expresses Deep Concern
The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, said he was deeply affected by the incident.
"What disturbs me profoundly is the calmness with which the perpetrator carried out this attack in broad daylight in Wuppertal," Schuster told the Catholic News Agency. "There is no trace of awareness of wrongdoing or shame. This approach testifies to the ongoing normalization of hatred towards Jews, for which our society has so far found no answer."
Timing Linked to Yom Kippur
In his assessment, the timing of the attack—just before the highest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur—was not chosen by chance:
"It remains the pattern of antisemitic violence to select holidays in order to spread fear and further push Jewish life out of the public sphere."
Yom Kippur will take place this year from Sunday evening (September 20th) until nightfall on September 21st.
"All synagogues will be full," Schuster continued. "The security authorities are obligated to ensure the safety of the services. We want to and will not let ourselves be prevented from practicing our religion."
Historical Context
Schuster noted that the timing of the attack recalls:
- The Chanukah attacks in Sydney in 2025
- The Yom Kippur attack in Manchester in 2025
- The attack in Halle in 2019
In Wuppertal itself, an arson attack had already been carried out against the synagogue in 2014.
"It remains the pattern of antisemitic violence to select holidays in order to spread fear and further push Jewish life out of the public sphere."
Sources: KNA, epd, rct
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