An Israeli restaurant in Munich was attacked overnight, with several windows broken and pyrotechnic devices thrown, police said Friday.
No one was hurt in this incident, but the attackers caused damage worth several thousand euros.
It is not clear who the attackers were or how many people were behind the attack.
Police and restaurant management believe the attack was motivated by anti-Semitism. Police State Security Service (or police state security), which deals with politically motivated crimes, has taken over the investigation.
What do we know about the case?
Emergency services received a call at around 12:45 a.m. on Friday reporting three loud bangs on Hessstrasse in the Maxvorstadt district. It is in the university district of the city centre, near the old town and the central railway station.
“According to the current state of the investigation, display windows were forcibly damaged and pyrotechnic devices were thrown into the restaurant,” police said.
Operators of the 70-seat restaurant told the German dpa news agency that there was “no direct threat” in the matter. They also said they planned to open for business as usual on Friday.
“We will not be afraid. We are reopening,” said Grigory Dretva, the owner’s brother-in-law and an employee of the eatery. The Central Council of Jews in Germany said in a post on Instagram that now was “a good moment to show solidarity” with the Eclipse restaurant.
Conference of European Rabbis warns attack ‘not a one-off’
Following the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and amid various conflicts in the Middle East, Germany has recorded a rise in crimes motivated by anti-Semitism, according to the BfV domestic intelligence service.
In recent weeks, fighting in Iran, Lebanon and the wider Middle East has brought the issue back to the fore after months of relative calm in the region.
The Munich-based Conference of European Rabbis also warned about the pattern on Friday.
“This attack is not a one-off, but part of a dangerous trend we are seeing since October 7, 2023,” CER said.
Gadi Grönich, Secretary General of CER, said, “Until now, Munich was a safe place for Jews, and it should remain that way. A clear line is needed: zero tolerance against anti-Semitism, with harsh penalties so that such incidents do not happen again, and there is no room for those who spread hatred in our society.”
Edited by: Carl Sexton