Status: 19.11.2022 7:11 p.m
After the shots were fired at the rabbi’s house in the old synagogue in Essen, the police are still searching. The attack will also occupy the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament. SPD and FDP have requested a special session of the interior committee.
One day after the shots were fired at the rabbi’s house in Essen, the search for the perpetrator is still ongoing. This was announced by a spokesman for the Essen police control center. After the bullet holes in the old synagogue, investigators have now also discovered damage to the new synagogue. Holes were noticed on the dome roof that could possibly be related to the attack.
Police examine holes in the dome of the Old Synagogue.
Image: dpa / Justin Brosch
There are two holes about half a meter apart that are said to be a few weeks old. The State Criminal Police Office is now examining whether these are possibly other bullet holes from a sharp weapon. In addition, video footage is being analyzed showing how a man shoots four times with a gun at the front door of the rabbi’s house.
Police increase presence at the old synagogue
In addition to the investigations, the police also increased their presence at the building complex in downtown Essen after the attack. She is on site with at least two emergency vehicles.
The background is a so-called awareness decree by the Ministry of the Interior. The ministry sent this to all district police authorities on Friday as an “immediate response to the shots”. In it, the authorities are instructed to review their personal and property protection measures “against the background of the event in Essen” and adjust them if necessary, as the ministry announced when asked by the dpa.
Regular events in the “House of Jewish Culture”
An institute for German-Jewish history is housed in the building hit. It borders directly on the Old Synagogue, which is no longer used as a place of worship. Instead, it houses the “House of Jewish Culture” of the city of Essen. There are regular events and there is an exhibition. The cultural monument is one of the largest free-standing synagogue buildings in Europe from the early 20th century.
Shots at the rabbi’s house also concern the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament
The attack should also concern the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament. SPD and FDP have requested a special session of the interior committee. In a letter, the two faction parties demanded that the state government report on the background to the crime and the status of the investigation. The letter is available from the German Press Agency. In addition, the state government should provide information about the measures to protect Jewish institutions in NRW.
“Finally, we also ask for information about the consequences the state government is drawing from the growing number of anti-Semitic attacks,” says the joint application for the special session. Committee chairwoman Angela Erwin (CDU) must decide whether and when the meeting will take place. The appointment could take place next week.
Horror after shots at the old synagogue
SPD faction leader Thomas Kutschaty called the attack on Friday “a disgrace for our country”. FDP faction leader Henning Höne had spoken of a vile attack on Jewish life. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) reacted with shock on Twitter.
Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) also expressed his dismay at the “recent attack on Jewish life in Germany”.
Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) speaks of an attack
On Friday morning, four bullet holes were discovered on a safety glass door to the rabbi’s house at the synagogue. According to Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU), a previously unknown man can be seen on a video as the alleged perpetrator. State security is investigating. Reul said on the spot: “The attack on the old synagogue in Essen shakes me deeply. The Jewish community can rely on us doing everything we can to identify the perpetrator as quickly as possible”.
Vigil in Essen
More than 50 people gathered at the crime scene on Friday for a vigil and set up candles. To this end, the Alliance had “meal stands across” called.
Police are looking for witnesses
The police have formed a special organizational structure (BAO) to deal with the case. The investigators are looking for witnesses who made observations around the old synagogue on Friday night, specifically between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Police are looking for witnesses after shots were fired at the synagogue in Essen
11/19/2022 5:10 p.m
Source: wdr.de