Afghan Man Arrested for Attempted Arson at German Synagogue

German police have arrested a 37-year-old Afghan national in connection with an attempted arson attack on the Berg Synagogue in Wuppertal, western Germany. The incident occurred on the afternoon of September 17, when the suspect allegedly doused the steps of a side entrance with flammable liquid and set it on fire. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, and no one was injured. The suspect was apprehended shortly after the incident. Authorities reported that the individual had previously come to the attention of law enforcement. The investigation is being handled by a unit specializing in politically motivated crimes, though the suspect's motive remains undetermined. Police are currently examining the circumstances of the attack, potential connections of the suspect, and are seeking witnesses, including two women who were near the synagogue at the time. Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, condemned the attack, expressing deep concern over its brazenness and what he described as a growing normalization of antisemitism. He highlighted that the incident occurred just days before Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day, and stressed the obligation of security forces to protect religious services. The Berg Synagogue, founded in 2002, has been targeted before; in 2014, three men received suspended sentences for throwing Molotov cocktails at the building, claiming they sought to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This incident follows closely on the heels of the German government's announcement of a 10-point plan to combat Islamism, which includes stricter criminal laws and enhanced monitoring of radicalization.