After the shots were fired at an outbuilding of the old synagogue in Essen, the police noticed two older holes on the roof of the new synagogue, which could also be the result of shots.
The damage that has now been discovered could possibly be bullet holes, the Essen police said. It’s about two older holes about half a meter apart, said a spokesman. “You will have to check whether there are bullet holes.” Police experts began investigating the holes. The State Criminal Police Office was also involved.
It was only on Friday night that the former rabbi’s house at the old synagogue in Essen, which belongs to the city and is no longer used for services, was shot at. An unknown person had fired at least three shots at a door. The currently used synagogue from 1959 is about one kilometer away as the crow flies from the old synagogue from 1913. It is currently being examined whether there is a connection between the shots fired at the old synagogue and the damage to the new synagogue.
Investigations are ongoing into the shooting of the rabbi’s house. The damaged door element had been removed and is now being forensically examined, said the police spokesman. The video recordings would be further evaluated. So far there have been no witnesses. The search for the perpetrator continues. However, it is not yet certain that it is actually a man, said the spokesman. This was not clearly visible on the recordings.
Protective measures at Jewish institutions increased
The police increased their presence at the building complex in the city center. “The protective measures have been increased at all Jewish institutions in Essen and Mülheim,” said the spokesman.
Nobody was injured by the shots. An institute for German-Jewish history is housed in the building hit. It borders directly on the Old Synagogue. It houses the “House of Jewish Culture” of the city of Essen.
The police are looking for witnesses who made observations around the old synagogue between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Friday night. According to the spokesman, the police assume that the crime was committed between 10 p.m. and midnight.
Opposition requests special committee session
The SPD and FDP parliamentary groups requested a special session of the state parliament’s interior committee. The motion of the two opposition parties for the special session in the state parliament states that against the background of the worrying increase in anti-Semitic crimes, the state government should report in a special session on the status of the investigation and the known background of the crime.
In addition, the state government should provide information about the measures to protect Jewish institutions in NRW. “Finally, we also ask for information about the consequences the state government is drawing from the growing number of anti-Semitic attacks,” the joint application says. Committee chairwoman Angela Erwin (CDU) must decide whether and when the meeting will take place. The appointment could be next week.
