Five months after damaging an Israeli flag in front of Augsburg City Hall, the alleged perpetrator was arrested. The young Syrian was originally supposed to appear before the district court in Augsburg in January for the crime, but went into hiding at the time and was then wanted by an arrest warrant. The court announced on Tuesday that the fugitive man had now been caught in Völklingen, Saarland.
On October 13, the then 18-year-old man is said to have torn down the flag that had been hoisted in solidarity with the Hamas attack on Israel from the mast on the town hall square. He then allegedly tried to set the flag on fire.
The act attracted nationwide attention, especially because a courageous passer-by intervened and prevented the flag from being burned. A video of the woman’s intervention was widely distributed. The district court wants to reschedule the trial against the man on Thursday this week. The prerequisite is that the defendant waives the usual summons deadlines.
Another man is said to have supported the main accused by filming the crime. The 19-year-old has already been legally sentenced to a youth sentence for aiding and abetting the violation of the flag and sovereign rights of foreign states and damage to property. He must have several conversations about anti-Semitism and complete 80 hours of community service. The refugee also has to pay 200 euros to the Jewish Museum in Augsburg.