Arson suspect detained after German synagogue targeted

A 37-year-old Afghan national was arrested in Wuppertal, Germany, on suspicion of arson at the Bergische Synagogue on Thursday afternoon, just three days before Yom Kippur. The suspect allegedly threw two bags of flammable liquid and ignited a third near a side entrance, making antisemitic remarks at the scene. Synagogue staff quickly extinguished the flames, and no injuries were reported. The suspect has a prior conviction for threatening a neighbor. The mayor of Wuppertal condemned the "utterly despicable" attack, and several Jewish organizations, including the European Jewish Congress, expressed concern, stating, "Attacks timed around Jewish holidays are part of a pattern intended to spread fear." This synagogue was also targeted in 2014.