Arson attack on Oldenburg synagogue: perpetrator remains in psychiatric hospital!

Arson attack on Oldenburg synagogue: perpetrator remains in psychiatric hospital!

An arson attack on the synagogue in Oldenburg has stirred emotions and continues to cause excitement. A 28-year-old has now been convicted and must be permanently admitted to a psychiatric facility. The Oldenburg regional court has decided that the man, who is not guilty due to paranoid schizophrenia, must remain in a psychiatric hospital until he recovers. This is reported by the NDR.

At the time of the crime, the accused was in an acute episode, which was triggered by cannabis consumption and discontinuation of his medication. He claimed to have acted out of religious delusion and was convinced that it was his duty to convert Jews, believing that they would not worship Jesus and would suffer after their death. The man was guided by voices in his head that encouraged him to build a Molotov cocktail, which he threw at the front door of the synagogue.

Details of the incident

The arson attack occurred on April 5, 2024. Fortunately, the fire was discovered and extinguished by two caretakers from a neighboring cultural center, which is why there were no injuries. However, the attack caused horror across the country, and the police formed an investigation team under the leadership of the State Security Service to clarify the background. Information from the population that is in the double-digit range is now being examined closely. The investigators had published photos and video recordings of the suspected perpetrator, who was wearing a dark jacket at the time of the crime and fled on foot towards Oldenburg main train station. From there he boarded a northwest railway and traveled to Delmenhorst.

To help identify the perpetrator, the police set up a tip portal on the Internet and offered a reward of 5,000 euros for helpful information that could lead to solving the case. This reward will be paid when the judgment is final. The topic had also reached a wider public because it was covered in the TV program “Aktenzeichen XY… Unsolved”.

The community's reaction

Nevertheless, the Jewish community in Oldenburg does not remain idle. A citizens' alliance organized a silent vigil for humanity and tolerance in Oldenburg to take a stand against hatred and violence. This shows how important it is to stand together in such times and send a strong message of respect and sanity.

Finally, the convicted man apologized to the head of the Jewish community, which is all too human in this tense situation. However, we must ask ourselves: How do we as a society deal with such extreme outages, and what steps are necessary to prevent future incidents?