Woman Attacked in Berlin Over Star of David Necklace

A 43-year-old woman was severely assaulted in Berlin's Mitte district early Friday morning after her Star of David necklace was noticed by two assailants. The incident occurred around 2:30 AM on Torstrasse. The attackers reportedly shouted antisemitic slurs before one struck the victim with a broken glass bottle, causing cuts to her hand as she attempted to defend herself. The perpetrators fled the scene. Paramedics provided initial treatment and transported the woman to a hospital. Police have not released details on her current condition or descriptions of the suspects. The state security department of the Berlin Criminal Police, which handles politically motivated and extremist crimes, is investigating. No arrests have been made.

This attack adds to a growing number of antisemitic incidents in the German capital. Official statistics for 2025 show 2,268 antisemitic offenses recorded in Berlin, a 24.3% increase from the previous year, with 64 involving direct violence. In June, a similar incident occurred in Charlottenburg where a man wearing a kippah was attacked with his children present; the assailant shouted insults, spat at them, and hit the man. That case is also under investigation by state security.

According to a July report by the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office, 820 investigations with antisemitic motives were opened in 2025, up from 756 the year before. A prosecutor specializing in combating antisemitism emphasized that the threat level remains extremely high, and such aggression not only harms individual victims but also systematically erodes the sense of security within the entire Jewish community.