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Berlin Synagogue Attacked as Anti-Semitic Incidents Surge in Europe

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An uptick in anti-Semitic incidents in Europe has recently rattled Berlin’s Jewish community, culminating in a disturbing event where two petrol bombs were thrown at a synagogue. The director of the synagogue, Anna Segal, expressed the growing tensions and feelings of threat within the community.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack, which occurred in the midst of violent protests in Berlin, where emergency services were targeted with projectiles and street barricades were set ablaze. Simultaneously, Lebanon’s Hezbollah called for a “day of rage” following a devastating explosion at a Gaza hospital.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany deemed this call a form of psychological terrorism that often leads to concrete attacks. The recent assault on the Berlin synagogue, which also houses a community center and a school, has heightened the community’s sense of vulnerability, with demands for better protection.

While police presence was reported at the time of the attack, a man was later detained for shouting anti-Israel slogans near the synagogue. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in France and parts of Germany were banned, with the Paris police dispersing a prohibited rally using tear gas and water cannon. In response to the surge in anti-Semitic incidents, French authorities vowed swift action against perpetrators, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the concerning rise in hate speech and vandalism targeting synagogues.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Community Security Trust (CST) in the UK also condemned the escalation of anti-Semitic acts. The CST particularly urged universities to swiftly combat anti-Semitism and safeguard Jewish students, highlighting 36 recorded incidents on campuses between October 7 and 16.

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Germany migrants: Seven dead after vehicle crashes in Bavaria

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Certainly, the accident occurred during the early hours of Friday when a minivan, suspected to be involved in people-smuggling, crashed and overturned near Ampfing in Bavaria, Germany. Police had attempted to stop the vehicle at a road check, but the driver accelerated, leading to the tragic incident that claimed the lives of seven individuals. Among the more than 20 passengers were also children, as reported by the authorities.

This unfortunate incident adds to a recent surge in people-smuggling activities in various parts of Europe. Several countries, including Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, have reinstated border checks in response to the escalating incidents. The A94 motorway, where the crash occurred, is often used as a route by people-smugglers crossing the border from Austria, highlighting the ongoing challenges related to human trafficking and illegal migration.

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann emphasized the pressing need to strengthen border controls to prevent smugglers from exploiting vulnerable migrants and endangering lives in the process. With a significant increase in first-time asylum requests in Germany, authorities are intensifying efforts to tackle the root causes of illegal migration and ensure the safety and security of those seeking refuge within the country.

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Israel-Gaza: French Jewish politicians put under police protection

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French police are providing security for key lawmakers amid concerns of a surge in antisemitic violence linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet and MP Meyer Habib are among those receiving protection.

France’s interior minister revealed over 100 antisemitic incidents had been reported since hostilities began, including instances of graffiti with hate messages and individuals caught trying to bring weapons into schools and synagogues.

The situation has also seen Assembly President Braun-Pivet receive death threats. Germany is responding to the issue with a “zero tolerance” policy for antisemitism, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed the banning of the pro-Palestinian group Samidoun, which celebrated the Hamas attack. He emphasized that Israel’s security was a matter of German state policy.

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Bavaria election: Toxic campaign heralds big vote for Germany’s populists

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In Germany’s largest state, Bavaria, voters recently participated in a contentious parliamentary election marked by a toxic atmosphere and the rise of populist forces. The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) aimed for a strong showing but faced accusations of manipulating the truth for political gain, while claiming to be victims of physical attacks and threats.

Tino Chrupalla, an AfD co-leader, was hospitalized after an incident during an election rally, which the party described as a “physical attack,” though police found no evidence of poisoning. Alice Weidel, another AfD co-leader, was placed in a safe house by Swiss police due to security concerns, even though she was on holiday abroad at the time.

On the other side, the Bavarian Greens faced hostility from right-wing factions, including physical attacks on their co-leader Katharina Schulze. Bavaria, once a tranquil and conservative stronghold, is experiencing turmoil as it grapples with various crises, including the Ukrainian refugee influx and the transition to renewable energy.

Despite these challenges, the government has managed to avert economic catastrophe, but public sentiment remains gloomy. The political landscape in Bavaria is increasingly polarized, with right-wing populists gaining traction by opposing climate reforms and presenting themselves as victims of persecution.

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Germany Takes Action Against Neo-Nazi Group Artgemeinschaft for Child Targeting

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Germany has imposed a ban on the far-right organization Artgemeinschaft due to its dissemination of Nazi ideology to children and young individuals. The country’s interior minister has labeled the group as “deeply racist and antisemitic” and accused it of attempting to cultivate new adversaries of the constitution.

Artgemeinschaft employed Nazi-era literature and cultural events as vehicles for propagating its ideology. Law enforcement authorities have conducted searches in numerous residences and offices associated with the group across 12 German states.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated, “This represents another significant blow against right-wing extremism and against those who continue to propagate Nazi ideologies to this day.”

Artgemeinschaft, which roughly translates to “racial community,” reportedly had around 150 members, according to the interior ministry. The ministry revealed that the group provided guidance to its members on selecting partners with North or Central European backgrounds, in alignment with their “racial preservation” ideology.

The sect operated an online bookstore and regularly hosted cultural events, drawing several hundred attendees. It portrayed itself as “Germany’s largest pagan community.”

Authorities assert that the group used the facade of “pseudo-religious Germanic beliefs” to promote a worldview that violates human dignity.

The ban encompasses the group’s website, publications, and Familienwerk, another affiliated association.

Recently, Germany also outlawed Hammerskins, another neo-Nazi organization known for its role in organizing far-right concerts and selling racist music. Hammerskins, founded in the US in the late 1980s, was the last major right-wing skinhead group in Germany after the banning of another group, Blood and Honour, in 2000. It was heavily involved in establishing neo-Nazi music labels, distributing antisemitic records, and organizing clandestine music events.

Germany’s interior minister emphasized that “right-wing extremism has many faces,” noting that while Artgemeinschaft operated differently from Hammerskins, it was “no less dangerous.”

Artgemeinschaft is one of Germany’s oldest neo-Nazi groups and played a significant role in connecting various far-right and neo-Nazi factions in the country. Stephan Ernst, who assassinated prominent regional politician Walter Lübcke in 2019 due to “racism and xenophobia,” was a member of the group, according to German intelligence. Media reports also suggest that members of the group had ties to Ralf Wohlleben, a neo-Nazi convicted of supporting a notorious cell responsible for ten racially motivated murders in Germany.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency estimates that there are 38,800 individuals active in the country’s right-wing extremist scene, with over a third of them considered “potentially violent.”

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Germany Outlaws Neo-Nazi Organization Hammerskins

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Germany has taken action to prohibit Hammerskins, a neo-Nazi group infamous for organizing far-right concerts and distributing racist music. This move is seen as a strong stance against racism and antisemitism, with 28 leading members’ residences being raided across the country.

Hammerskins, which originally originated in the United States in the late 1980s, is believed to have around 130 members in Germany. The German authorities have labeled this ban as a significant blow to organized right-wing extremism and the cruel activities of an internationally active neo-Nazi organization.

Nancy Faeser, Germany’s interior minister, emphasized that right-wing extremism remains a substantial threat to democracy and that they will continue to take decisive action. The group’s primary objective was to use concerts as a platform to propagate their far-right ideology.

Hammerskins played a significant role in establishing neo-Nazi music labels, selling antisemitic music, and arranging covert music events. They were linked to venues like Hate Bar in Saarland, where arrests were made for displaying prohibited symbols during far-right concerts as recently as April of this year.

The German authorities collaborated closely with their counterparts in the United States in advance of this ban. Hammerskins, founded in Texas in 1988, expanded its presence across the US and several other countries, operating under a global umbrella known as the Hammerskin Nation.

In Germany, the group had been active since the early 1990s and was regarded as one of the most influential far-right organizations in Europe. It was divided into 13 regional chapters, some of which used names referencing Nazi Germany, and operated similarly to biker gangs. New members were required to complete initiation steps through their supporting group, Crew 38, which has also been banned.

The recent police raids aimed to target leaders of the group in 10 German states and seize the group’s assets. Several members were reported to have licenses to carry weapons. They referred to each other as “brothers” and considered themselves the “elite of the right-wing extremist skinhead scene.”

The group was responsible for organizing Germany’s largest far-right martial arts event, Fight of the Nibelungs, which was banned in 2019. Despite bans on certain activities, Hammerskins continued to organize concerts featuring various neo-Nazi bands.

This ban marks the 20th time that a right-wing extremist association has been outlawed in Germany, according to the interior ministry. Hammerskins was the last major right-wing skinhead organization in Germany following the outlawing of another group, Blood and Honour, in 2000. Blood and Honour had close ties to a neo-Nazi group responsible for 10 racially motivated murders in Germany.

In 2020, Germany also banned Combat 18, another neo-Nazi group associated with far-right concerts. The country’s domestic intelligence agency estimated that there are 38,800 individuals in the right-wing extremist scene, with over a third of them considered “potentially violent.”

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France Unveils Proposal to Prohibit Single-Use E-Cigarettes

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France is poised to implement a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, known locally as ‘puffs,’ due to concerns about their impact on the environment and public health. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced this move as part of a broader anti-smoking plan developed by the government, with the ban expected to take effect by year-end. Similar bans have been announced in several other European countries, including Germany, Belgium, and Ireland, with the UK also reportedly considering such a prohibition.

These disposable vapes, available at tobacconists in France for approximately €9 (equivalent to £7.70), claim to provide around 600 puffs, roughly equivalent to 40 traditional cigarettes. However, France’s National Academy of Medicine has criticized them as a ‘deceptive lure for children and adolescents,’ arguing that they instill smoking-related behaviors in young users.

Critics accuse manufacturers, many of which are based in China, of deliberately targeting teenagers with colorful designs and a variety of flavors reminiscent of a candy store, such as marshmallow, chocolate, hazelnut, watermelon, and ice candy. According to the Alliance Against Tobacco (ACT), 13% of 13-16-year-olds in France have tried disposable e-cigarettes at least once, with most starting around the ages of 11 or 12.

Campaigners argue that the ban is a significant victory, as disposable e-cigarettes serve as a gateway to smoking for young people. Loïc Josseran, ACT president, emphasizes the tobacco industry’s role in this trend, describing it as a deliberate effort to entice children.

Environmental concerns have also been raised, as disposable e-cigarettes contribute to ecological damage. In the UK, a study by the environmental organization Material Focus found that over one million of these devices were discarded weekly. French doctors and environmentalists have called disposable e-cigarettes an ‘environmental plague,’ citing their plastic construction, non-removable lithium batteries, nicotine content, and traces of heavy metals.

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Bavarian Deputy Leader Aiwanger Faces Scrutiny Over Historical Anti-Semitic Flyer

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Bavarian Deputy Premier Hubert Aiwanger is facing scrutiny over his involvement with an anti-Semitic pamphlet from his school days. Aiwanger, a populist conservative leader, denies writing the pamphlet that mocked the Holocaust, but he has acknowledged possessing it 35 years ago. Bavarian Premier Markus Söder has asked Aiwanger to respond to 25 questions regarding the controversy. This issue comes ahead of crucial elections in Bavaria on October 8.

Söder emphasized the importance of transparency and condemned anti-Semitism, asserting that it has no place in the Bavarian government. The state parliament has requested an urgent statement on the matter. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also called for clarification, underscoring the need to address anti-Semitism vigilantly.

The pamphlet in question contained references to a fictional competition for “the biggest traitor to the Fatherland,” with a disturbing prize of a “free flight through the chimney in Auschwitz,” referencing the Auschwitz extermination camp where countless Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. Aiwanger later admitted to having copies of the pamphlet in his schoolbag during his teenage years, but he couldn’t recall whether he distributed the material himself. He denounced the content as “disgusting and inhumane.”

The situation has generated debates over whether actions from a person’s youth should impact their political career decades later. However, the pamphlet’s offensive content has been widely condemned. In Germany, making light of concentration camps is unacceptable and can have legal consequences due to Holocaust denial being a criminal offense.

Aiwanger’s response to the situation has been criticized for lacking transparency and genuine remorse. Despite his history of fiery and populist rhetoric, he has remained reticent on this matter. Pressure is mounting on Aiwanger, especially from Söder, who aims to maintain the coalition with Aiwanger’s party but is frustrated by the timing of the controversy ahead of crucial elections.

The Free Voters party, led by Aiwanger, is expected to secure 11-14% of the vote, but if support wanes, it could spell trouble for Söder’s conservative Christian Social Union. This situation is particularly significant given upcoming elections in other German states and nationally, as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been gaining traction.

The handling of the story by the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung has also come under scrutiny, with criticism directed at its headline suggesting Aiwanger wrote the pamphlet, even though his denial was placed behind a paywall for subscribers to access.

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German Foreign Minister’s Sydney Trip Derailed by Plane Defect

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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had to cancel her planned trip to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji due to issues with her government plane. The 23-year-old Airbus A340-300 experienced repeated wing flap problems, forcing it to make emergency landings in Abu Dhabi twice within two days.

Baerbock expressed her frustration on social media, highlighting the unreliability of Germany’s government planes despite the country’s reputation for efficiency.

This is not the first time such problems have arisen; in 2018, the same Airbus plane caused then Chancellor Angela Merkel to miss a G20 summit due to technical faults.

Germany’s Luftwaffe Air Force announced the early retirement of the problematic plane, replacing it and another A340-300 with recently acquired A350 planes for top government officials.

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German Government Official Allegedly Engaged in Espionage for Russia

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A German government official has been apprehended in Germany on allegations of sharing classified information with Russia. The individual, identified only as Thomas H in accordance with German privacy regulations, was employed by a department focused on military equipment and information technology. It is claimed that he took independent initiative to visit both the Russian embassy in Berlin and the consulate in Bonn, offering his services.

After being presented before a judge on Wednesday, he was taken into custody pending a trial. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to announce the arrest, emphasizing the need for vigilance.

The accused is believed to have handed over information gathered through his professional responsibilities with the intention of it reaching a Russian intelligence agency, as stated by the federal prosecutor’s office. The arrest took place in Koblenz, western Germany, accompanied by searches of his home and workplace.

This incident follows a warning issued in June by the domestic security agency, the BfV, about the potential threat of an “aggressive Russian espionage operation” amidst Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. This isn’t the first occurrence of its kind since the Russian invasion began in February the previous year.

In a separate case from January, another German citizen named Arthur E was arrested under suspicion of treason for his alleged role in a plot to supply intelligence to Russia. He was thought to be associated with an employee of the German foreign intelligence service (BND) who had been apprehended in December on charges of spying for Russia.

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