Police detain over a dozen men in Germany after synagogues targeted in widespread antisemitic protests

German police have detained at least sixteen men so far after three recorded antisemitic incidents took place in three separate cities, all in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

In the cities of Bonn and Münster, synagogues were targeted late on Tuesday by protestors who set Israeli flags on fire outside.

Delivering a solemn warning of the rising antisemitism, Josef Schuster, President of Germany’s Central Council of Jews, stated: “Israel and Jews as a whole are subjected to hatred and incitement, particularly on social media. The threat to the Jewish community is growing.”

Lamenting the vandalism of the cities’ synagogues, Mr Schuster said that “the protection of Jewish institutions must be raised.” He added: “We expect from the people in Germany solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community.”

Thirteen men were arrested in Münster after a group of men were seen shouting and burning an Israeli flag outside the synagogue. For similar actions, three men in their twenties were arrested in Bonn.

Vandals in Düsseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, set alight a garbage bag over a stone which commemorated the city’s Grand Synagogue which was destroyed during Kristallnacht, a night of looting and attacks in Nazi Germany.

In Gelsenkirchen, footage emerged of an angry mob waving Turkish and Palestinian Authority flags while chanting “Scheiße Juden”, which translates to “sh***y Jews.”

Armin Laschet, the state’s Minister-President, stated that there would be enhanced security in the region. He declared: “We will tolerate no antisemitism.”

Meanwhile, a synagogue was vandalised in Spain with antisemitic graffiti.

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