Synagogue arson puts police on alert

Jewish institutions in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz are receiving increased protection following an arson attack on the synagogue in Worms.

Fires reportedly were set the night of May 16 at eight spots around the synagogue, which is one of the oldest in Germany, dating back to 1034. The fire department quickly extinguished the flames.

There was some damage; no one was injured.

Police reported finding eight copies of a letter at the scene that read, “Until you give the Palestinians peace, we will not give you peace.”

According to a report on the website of Dom Radio, police could not confirm whether the letters had anything to do with the attack. The letters were written in “bad German,” suggesting that the perpetrator or perpetrators were not German themselves.

Political and religious leaders reacted with shock to news of the attack. State Prime Minister Kurt Beck of the Social Democratic Party told reporters that “an attack against a Jewish house of worship is crossing the line” and he vowed to use “all legal means to pursue” those responsible. — jta