German prosecutors in the western city of Wuppertal have taken over the investigation into an attempted arson attack on a local synagogue. A 37-year-old Afghan national was arrested shortly after the incident, and according to authorities, he made comments indicating an antisemitic motive to the arresting officers.

The attack occurred on Thursday afternoon when the suspect allegedly threw three containers of flammable liquid at a stairwell and doorway serving as an entrance to the synagogue and its adjoining eatery, Cafe Negev, and then set it alight. A staff member quickly extinguished the fire, resulting in no injuries and minimal damage to the structure, police said.

Police officers on security duty at the scene were able to provisionally arrest the suspect in the immediate vicinity. After reviewing video surveillance footage, prosecutors said he is strongly suspected of having laid the fire. A search of his apartment uncovered several knives and a machete positioned in easy reach. The suspect, who had a prior criminal record for threatening a female neighbor, is being investigated for attempted aggravated arson.

The attack took place just before the Jewish high holidays of Yom Kippur. The Central Council of Jews in Germany condemned the attack. "Once again an attack on a synagogue has taken place at the time of Jewish high holidays," said Josef Schuster, the council's president. "What disturbs me most is how coolly the perpetrator in Wuppertal carried out this attack in broad daylight. There's no sign of a sense of shame or being conscious of wrongdoing."

Wuppertal, home to around 350,000 people, lies just east of Düsseldorf in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Regional broadcaster WDR reported that about 30 people attended an impromptu gathering outside the synagogue on Thursday evening in a show of solidarity. The suspect was set to appear before a judge on Friday.

Source: www.dw.com