German police probe arson attack on Wuppertal synagogue

Prosecutors in the German city of Wuppertal said on Friday that they had taken over the lead in investigations into an attempted arson attack at the local synagogue. 

They said a 37-year-old Afghan national arrested near the scene soon after made "comments that indicated an antisemitic motive" to detaining officers.

A search of his apartment uncovered weapons.

The suspect is being investigated for attempted aggravated arson. He was set to appear before a judge at an arraignment hearing on Friday.

What did prosecutors say about the incident and the investigation? 

The attack took place midafternoon on Thursday. The suspect allegedly threw three containers of flammable liquid at a stairwell and doorway serving as an entrance to the synagogue and its adjoining eatery, Cafe Negev, and then set it alight. 

The fire was quickly extinguished by a staff member, meaning that nobody was hurt and the damage to the structure was minimal, according to police. 

"Shortly after, police officers on security duty on site were able to provisionally arrest a 37-year-old man in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene," Wuppertal's prosecutor's office said in a statement. "After reviewing the video surveillance footage from the scene he is strongly suspected of having laid the fire."

Although "intensive" background investigations were ongoing, prosecutors said there were already clues regarding the motive. 

"During the police intervention, he issued comments that indicated an antisemitic motive for the crime," prosecutors wrote.

The Wuppertal resident with Afghan citizenship had a prior criminal record for threatening a female neighbor, they said. 

"His apartment was already searched ... yesterday evening," prosecutors wrote. "Alongside documents several knives and a machete were located, which had been positioned in easy reach." 

Police were investigating data from the suspect's mobile phone, which they confiscated in the arrest.

Central Council of Jews in Germany condemns nature of broad-daylight attack

Regional broadcaster WDR reported that about 30 people attended an impromptu gathering outside the synagogue on Thursday evening in a show of solidarity. 

The Central Council of Jews in Germany condemned the attack in the buildup to the Yom Kippur religious holiday on September 20 and 21.  

"Once again an attack on a synagogue has taken place at the time of Jewish high holidays," said Josef Schuster, the council's president.

"What disturbs me most is how coolly the perpetrator in Wuppertal carried out this attack in broad daylight. There's no sign of a sense of shame or being conscious of wrongdoing."

Wuppertal, home to around 350,000 people, lies just east of Düsseldorf in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Edited by: Zac Crellin

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