Overview
- The fire was set on the steps of a side entrance of the Bergische Synagoge and was quickly extinguished by synagogue members on Thursday, leaving no injuries and only minor damage.
- Police arrested a 37-year-old man described as an Afghan national who is already known to authorities and say he spread and ignited a flammable liquid at the scene.
- State security (Staatsschutz) and the criminal police have taken over the investigation and forensic teams are on site, but officials have not released a confirmed motive.
- Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews, condemned the act as a "brandanschlag" and warned the timing three days before Yom Kippur raises fears of attacks on Jewish holidays and calls for greater protection.
- The incident revives memory of a 2014 arson on the same synagogue and comes as antisemitic incidents in Germany remain high, with authorities reporting 8,725 cases in 2025, which could increase pressure for tougher security and legal responses.