German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has strongly condemned a firebomb assault on a synagogue in Berlin, labeling it as a "terrorist attack" and vowing that such attacks against Jewish institutions will never be accepted. The incident occurred on Wednesday when assailants threw two Molotov cocktails at the Kahal Adass Jisroel community synagogue in the center of the German capital. The attack comes at a time when antisemitic incidents in the country have been on the rise following the violent escalation in the Middle East.

The Kahal Adass Jisroel community reported on X, formerly known as Twitter, that "unknown persons threw two Molotov cocktails from the street." In response, dozens of police officers were deployed to investigate the incident. The area surrounding the synagogue was cordoned off, and traffic was blocked. According to the police, the attack is being investigated as an "attempted serious arson." Two individuals, their faces covered, approached the synagogue at 3:45 a.m. and threw the Molotov cocktails, which ignited on the sidewalk near the building. The perpetrators then fled the scene.

Shortly after the initial attack, a 30-year-old man arrived at the synagogue on a scooter. He threw the scooter aside and attempted to approach the building. However, the police intervened and detained him. The man resisted arrest and shouted anti-Israeli slogans. This incident occurred while the police were still investigating the earlier attack.

The Central Council of Jews, Germany's leading Jewish group, expressed shock and concern over the terrorist attack, stating, "Words become deeds. Hamas' ideology of extermination against everything Jewish is also having an effect in Germany." The Kahal Adass Jisroel community building complex houses a synagogue, a kindergarten, a yeshiva school, and a community center.

Apart from the assault on the synagogue, there were also reports of overnight riots between Muslim immigrants and the police in the Neukoelln and Kreuzberg neighborhoods of Berlin. Additionally, clashes took place at the iconic Brandenburg Gate, resulting in injuries to several police officers.

Speaking from Egypt, Chancellor Scholz emphasized that Germany will not tolerate violent and antisemitic protests. He vowed to increase the protection of Jewish institutions and expressed his personal outrage over the incident. Scholz stated, "We stand united for the protection also of Jews in Germany."

Rabbi Shlomo Afanasev, a long-time member of the Kahal Adass Jisroel community, expressed his shock and apprehension following the attack. He mentioned that he would now wear a baseball hat to cover his skullcap, as he no longer feels safe openly displaying his Jewish identity in public.

In the wake of the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, German police have heightened security measures for Jewish institutions across the country. However, acts of hostility towards Jews have still been reported. Israeli flags displayed in front of city halls as a sign of solidarity have been torn down and burned, while the Star of David has been painted on doors and walls of Jewish residences in Berlin.

The investigation into the attack on the synagogue is ongoing, and authorities are determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident has further highlighted the need for increased security measures to ensure the safety of the Jewish community in Germany.