Sunday, August 23, 2020

Austria: Synagogue Attacked in Graz

(Bild: Landespolizeidirektion Steiermark, Krone KREATIV)
-Photos Kronen Zeitung (Austria)

This week, a Jewish leader, his synagogue and other locations were attacked by the above-pictured individual in Graz, Austria. Police are actively searching for the suspect, who also broke windows at a local bordello (prostitution is legal in Austria), and sprayed pro-Palestinian slogans on building walls. The below article is translated by Fousesquawk.

https://www.krone.at/2216342

Spread all over Graz

Synagogue- Attacker carried out further attacks

In the shocking case of the attack on Elie Rosen and the Graz Synagogue, further details have come to light. The Graz police informed Am Sonntag that the suspect, thus far, is believed to have committed 7 criminal acts in the city area.  The man who is being searched for at full speed, is under strong suspicion, also of having attacked a RosaLila Panthers clubhouse and  thrown rocks at a bordello  on Grenadier Street, where he also is said to have mocked prostitutes.

In addition, according to the police, the man committed further acts of vandalism in the city area of Graz, where he, among other things, sprayed pro-Palestinian slogans on house walls on the Annen Street and near the main train station.  Window panes at the bordello on Grenadier Street were broken as a result of rocks being thrown.

Big wave of support

Already on Saturday and Sunday, a large wave of support formed in solidarity with the Jewish community in Austria and other victims. In the Steiermark, the governor, Hermann Schützenhöfer, and the mayor of Graz Siegfried Nagl (both ÖVP) as well as their representatives, stood "shoulder to shoulder" and condemned the attacks in the sharpest terms.

Elie Rosen: "I am coming to terms with it"

Rosen said on the day after the  assault on him:  "I believe that every physical attack, even when there are no physical results, have  a thoroughly psychological impact. I would lie if I said I was relaxed. I am coming to terms with it." The Jewish community and he will not let themselves get down.

Protection for Rosen half hour too late

In respect to the accusations that the Graz police acted too late, the authorities made clear at a press conference on Sunday that increased protection for the synagogue is already in effect. To have such a guard around the clock, a longer lead time and planning time are needed. Personal protection for Elie Rosen should have been started a half hour after the attack.

Die Jüdische Synagoge Graz wird derzeit von der Polizei bewacht, um weitere Angriffe zu verhindern. (Bild: Sepp Pail)
Photo- Kronen Zeitung. Caption: The Graz synagogue is currently guarded by police to prevent further attacks.

Police set up an investigation team

On Sunday, police set up an investigation team, in order to arrest the suspect as quickly as possible. Land police director Gerald Ortner said that the perpetrator may have attacked the synagogue for the first time on Wednesday. He explained that,"it is not just an anti-Semitic perpetrator, but also a homophobic one."


On Sunday, images of the video surveillance (camera) were publicized, in which the suspect can be recognized. In all, 7 crimes are attributed to the perpetrator. 

For information as to the identity of the person, please contact the journal service of the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Combating Terrorism: 059 133/60 8333.

* Update (8-24-20) The Jerusalem Post reports that police have arrested a 26-year-old Syrian refugee for the attack. The below link also gives more details on how Mr Rosen was attacked.


https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/syrian-refugee-arrested-for-violent-attack-on-austrian-jewish-leader-639691

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