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Attack on Austrian Jewish leader denounced

August 23, 2020

Top Austrian politicians have spoken out after the head of Graz's Jewish community was attacked with a wooden club. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said authorities would "do everything to bring the perpetrator to justice."

https://p.dw.com/p/3hNBY
The Graz synogogue
Rosen took shelter in his car and was unhurt; the attacker then fled Image: picture-alliance/APA/E. Scheriau

Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer on Sunday ordered increased police surveillance of all Jewish institutions after a Jewish leader Elie Rosen was attacked.

Rosen, Jewish community president in Austria's second-largest city, Graz, in Styria province, told Germany's dpa news agency the silent assailant first swung a wooden club, without striking him on Saturday evening, and then struck his car heavily as he drove away.

The attack took place a day after the windows of Graz's synagogue were damaged.

Last Tuesday night, slogans were sprayed on the synagogue and nearby community center, said Rosen, adding Saturday's assailant resembled a person in previous surveillance footage.

Read more: Austria to give citizenship to descendants of Nazi victims

Safety of Jewish community 'paramount'

On Twitter, Chancellor Kurz said he was shocked over the incidents and insisted "everything" would be done to bring the elusive perpetrator to justice.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen tweeted: "Hatred of Jews and Anti-Semitism has no place in our society."

Elie Rosen
Rosen took shelter in his car and was unhurt; the attacker then fledImage: picture-alliance/APA/E. Scheriau

Austrian police said connections in the recent Graz incidents "seem obvious."

A report published last May by the Jewish Community of Vienna and Forum against Antisemitism itemized 550 anti-Semitic incidents across Austria in 2019.

That represented a 9.5% increase in incidents recorded in 2017.

Catholic, Protestant leaders 'shocked'

Vienna's Catholic Archbishop Christoph Schönborn tweeted: "The repeated attacks on the Graz Synagogue shocks me. My first thought is for Mr. Rosen."

"Anti-Semitism must never again find a place in Austria," urged Schönborn.

Austrian Protestant-Lutheran Bishop Michael Chalupka said the Graz attack was "shameful" and was to be condemned, just like the acts of vandalism.

Attempts to make Jews afraid to take to the streets in Austria "could not be" said Chalupka.

Ümit Vural, the President of the Islamic Religious Community in Austria also condemned developments: "Anti-Semitism and agitation have no place in our society! My full solidarity goes to the Jewish community."

ipj/mm (dpa, Reuters)