Arrest warrant for planned attack on synagogue in Halle

An arrest warrant has been issued for a young man in connection with a planned right-wing extremist attack on the synagogue in Halle an der Saale. The 19-year-old is said to have repeatedly announced his attack plans in a Telegram chat group between July of last year and February and to have acquired a long gun, according to the Halle public prosecutor's office.

No specific date for implementation

The suspect is being investigated for preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state and illegal possession of a firearm. According to the public prosecutor's office, a specific time for the commission of the crime has not been determined at this stage of the investigation. The accused himself denies having seriously pursued the attack plans.

The young man, who lives in Switzerland and previously lived in Halle an der Saale, was arrested by federal authorities on February 14. In addition to electronic communication devices, a functioning long gun was also confiscated. A week ago, Switzerland extradited the suspect to Germany.

Synagogue already targeted in 2019

A right-wing extremist attack has already been carried out on the synagogue in Halle. On October 9, 2019, a right-wing extremist from Saxony-Anhalt attempted to storm it during celebrations for the highest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur. Failing to break into the synagogue's secured door, he shot a 40-year-old passerby on the street and stormed a nearby snack bar, killing a 20-year-old man. Fleeing from the police, he injured several more people before being finally arrested. The attacker was sentenced to life imprisonment followed by preventive detention.

sti/pg (afp, dpa epd, kna)