The arson attack on the Jewish part of Vienna’s central cemetery on Wednesday evening continues to cause great horror. It now seems clear to investigators: the fire was deliberately started – two fire sources have been found.
The fire broke out in two places, the ‘Krone’ was told. The police now suspect arson. Swastikas were also spray-painted on the outside walls.
Anteroom of the ceremony hall
Israeli Community (IKG) President Oskar Deutsch reported on Platform “It is one of 165 confirmed anti-Semitic incidents since the October 7 massacre,” Deutsch explained on social media.
The police suspect arson
The emergency services were alerted shortly after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, said fire department spokesman Gerald Schimpf. The spokesperson explained that “there may have been a fire there overnight.” However, the flames largely went out on their own. Firefighters were still extinguishing the embers and ventilating the smoke-filled areas.
Terror alert level increased
Following the attack on Israel by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, the terror alert level in Austria was raised and the protection of Jewish institutions was even increased. The security of the city temple in the city center was only extended to 24 hours more than ten days ago after the police had to listen to criticism because the Israeli flag had been torn from the synagogue.
After the fire in the Jewish part of the central cemetery, police again stated on Wednesday that they were “focusing on the protection of Jews living in Austria” “in close cooperation with the Jewish community.” “The focus is therefore on protecting people.”
Various Halloween advertisements
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution “takes consistent action against all those who threaten Jewish life and thus coexistence in Austria,” Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) assured in a written statement. Last Halloween night, hundreds of additional police officers were on duty across Austria, the broadcast said. The police consistently intervened where necessary. In the early evening on Vienna’s Stephansplatz, as part of an unregistered rally, “numerous people were stopped after shouting anti-Semitic slogans and reported themselves to the public prosecutor’s office.”
“Put a mark”
As the IKG announced in a press release, the building affected by the fire was temporarily closed by the authorities. There is significant property damage. Graves could be visited. Deutsch called via X to come to the sea of light on Vienna’s Heldenplatz on Thursday at 6 p.m. “Take a stand against anti-Semitism and misanthropy. For an end to the attacks on Israel, Judaism and democracy, for the liberation of all hostages.”
“The desecration of Jewish cemeteries is one of the most cowardly and abhorrent forms of anti-Semitic violence,” Rabbi Shlomo Hofmeister criticized.
Source: Krone
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