The procedure for the attempted arson attack on the synagogue in Ermreuth, Upper Franconia, is going to the next instance. A spokeswoman for the district court in Bamberg announced on Wednesday that the accused had appealed the verdict against his defense attorney. On May 26, the court sentenced the 22-year-old to two and a half years in prison for attempted serious arson and damaging property.
The judge had attested to the accused’s right-wing extremist sentiments that had existed for years. He was aware of the consequences of his act despite a significant consumption of alcohol and the verdict should therefore also send a clear signal, it was said in the justification.
The young man had declared in court that he had right-wing extremist sentiments and admitted to having smashed a window in the synagogue while intoxicated on New Year’s Eve 2023. A surveillance video shows how he then tried several times to light fireworks and throw them into the synagogue. When that didn’t work, he finally went on.
There were no people in the building at the time, and there was damage of around 1,600 euros. The incident caused outrage far beyond the community. Ermreuth is a district of Neunkirchen am Brand in the district of Forchheim.