Germany's Scholz vows to battle antisemitism

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced outrage and pledged to intensify efforts against antisemitism in Germany, following an attack on a Jewish synagogue in central Berlin in which assailants hurled two Molotov cocktails.

Police in the German capital said a suspected "serious attempted arson" took place in the early hours of Wednesday in the Mitte district of the city.

There were no reports of injuries or damage, and security services are investigating the attack.

According to local media reports, the assault on the synagogue, which occurred around 3:45 am local time, came amid a notable uptick in antisemitic incidents following the Palestine-Israel conflict.

The building is owned by the Kahal Adass Jisroel community and is said to house not only a synagogue but a daycare center and school.

"Two unidentified people came on foot and threw two burning bottles filled with liquid in the direction of the synagogue on Brunnenstrasse," police said in a statement.

The two containers burst on the pavement and started a fire, the police added.

Masked assailants fled the scene, and security workers outside the building noticed "a small fi re" on the sidewalk, which they promptly extinguished, police added.

Speaking during a visit to Egypt, Scholz strongly condemned the attack.

"I want to expressly say that I am outraged. It outrages me personally what some are shouting and doing," Scholz said.

The chancellor also posted a separate message on social media, condemning anti-Jewish hatred.

"Attacks against Jewish institutions, violent riots on our streets — this is inhumane, disgusting and cannot be tolerated," he said. "Antisemitism has no place in Germany. My thanks go to the security forces, especially in this situation."

Jewish groups in Germany have complained about a mounting sense of insecurity since the outbreak of the Palestine-Israel conflict.

The conflict has stirred sentiment in Germany's Arab-speaking and Jewish communities, and security has been increased at Jewish establishments across the country.

Police have reportedly refused to permit pro-Palestinian demonstrations and have broken up several spontaneous gatherings.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany suggested allegations from Hamas blaming Israel for a lethal explosion at a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday may have contributed to growing animosity against Germany's 200,000-member Jewish community, reported AFP.

"We all have a responsibility to ensure that innocent tragic victims are not used for repulsive terror propaganda," it said in a statement.

Last week, Scholz urged his compatriots to stand in solidarity with Germany's Jewish population and ensure people's safety, while condemning incidents at pro-Palestinian rallies. He said it was Germany's responsibility to take such a stance because of the Holocaust, during which 6 million Jewish people were murdered.

AFP noted that Germany reported a record increase in politically motivated crimes last year, with antisemitic offenses rising nearly 29 percent, to 3,027, largely fueled by the far-right.