Germany’s state security agency is investigating a suspected politically motivated arson incident at a Berlin town hall. The attack, which was accompanied by Gaza-related slogans, was thwarted by the fast reaction of local residents and the swift response of the Berlin fire brigade. The fire caused damage to furniture inside the town hall, which is currently undergoing restoration work.
Graffiti discovered at the scene contained anti-Israel messages and threats, such as ‘If Gaza Burns, Berlin Burns’ and ‘Warning Berlin, We’ll Let it Burn’. The police suspect a Molotov cocktail was used to start the fire, and they are treating the arson and the graffiti as linked incidents. The state security agency is now leading the investigation and considering the possibility of political arson.
Berlin’s anti-Semitism commissioner emphasized the need to focus on recent anti-Semitic and anti-Israel escalations in light of the attack. This incident is seen as part of a larger trend of rising anti-Semitism in Germany, with numerous politically motivated crimes attributed to foreign ideology or religious causes. Recent incidents, such as the firebombing of a synagogue and the disruption of an Auschwitz memorial, highlight the urgent need to combat this resurgence of hatred and violence.
