North Rhine-Westphalia: shots at the rabbi's house: special session requested

After the shots at the former rabbi's house at the old synagogue in Essen, there is still horror.

North Rhine-Westphalia: shots at the rabbi's house: special session requested

After the shots at the former rabbi's house at the old synagogue in Essen, there is still horror. The police are looking for the perpetrator. The political preparation should begin in the state parliament.

Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - After the shots were fired at the former rabbi's house at the old synagogue in Essen, the SPD and FDP factions jointly requested a special session of the state parliament's interior committee. The corresponding letter is available from the German Press Agency. Meanwhile, the search for the culprit continues.

The motion of the two opposition parties for the special session in the state parliament states that against the background of the worrying increase in anti-Semitic crimes, the state government should report on the status of the investigation and the known background of the crime in a special session of the interior committee.

In addition, the state government should provide information about the measures to protect Jewish institutions in NRW. "Finally, we also ask for information about the consequences the state government is drawing from the growing number of anti-Semitic attacks," says the joint application for the special session. Committee chairwoman Angela Erwin (CDU) must decide whether and when the meeting will take place. The appointment could be next week.

SPD faction leader Thomas Kutschaty called the attack on Friday "a disgrace for our country". FDP faction leader Henning Höne had spoken of a vile attack on Jewish life. North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) wrote on Twitter that the shots at the synagogue shocked and appalled him. One stands by the side of the Jews in North Rhine-Westphalia and protects them against hate and violence.

Four bullet holes were discovered on a safety glass door to the rabbi's house by the synagogue on Friday morning. According to Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU), a previously unknown man can be seen on a video as the alleged perpetrator. State security is investigating.

On Friday evening, more than 50 people gathered at the crime scene for a vigil and put out candles. The alliance "Eating is transverse" had called for her.

Meanwhile, the police have formed a special organizational structure (BAO) to deal with the case. The investigators are looking for witnesses who made observations around the old synagogue on Friday night, specifically between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m.