Status: 06.10.2022 07:52
In Hanover, unknown persons smashed a window of the synagogue of the Jewish community during a service. The police have started investigations.
The perpetrator or perpetrators had thrown a stone or other hard object into a window on Wednesday evening. According to the community, around 150 to 200 people were in the synagogue at the time to celebrate the conclusion of the highest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur. Nobody got hurt.
Fürst: First attack of this kind in Hanover
Those present heard a bang on a window in the women’s gallery around 7 p.m., said the chairman of the community and the state association of Jewish communities in Lower Saxony, Michael Fürst. An object struck at about head height. There is now a hole in the lead glass the size of an A4 sheet of paper. “This is shocking for the community,” said Fürst. “It’s the first time in Hanover that something like this has happened.” Those present were initially very excited, but then celebrated the service to the end. “There is a lot to suggest that someone climbed over the fence,” said Fürst. It takes a lot of strength to overcome this: “It couldn’t have been children.”
Security is to be improved – three years after the Halle attack
The incident is reminiscent of the attack on the synagogue in Halle on October 9, 2019, also on Yom Kippur. At the time, a right-wing extremist tried to break into the synagogue there by force of arms, but failed at a security door. Shortly thereafter, near the synagogue, he shot dead two people and injured two others. As a result, the Jewish communities in Lower Saxony agreed with the state government after long negotiations to strengthen security precautions. Work on the synagogue in Hanover is to begin soon.
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