He attempted an arson attack on the synagogue: “He poured gasoline around the building”

Saturday night at 8 pm there was an arson attempt in the Agudas Achim synagogue in Zurich Wiedikon. “A man was pouring gasoline around the building and on the synagogue door when he was caught by our security guards,” says Zurich councilor Jehuda Spielman. The man then wanted to escape.

He emphasizes: “It was not a random attack – video recordings show how he was previously out in the community and he was also seen at at least one other Jewish institution. He also verbally harassed at least one Jew, Spielman said. “According to our information, however, this is not an Islamist-inspired attack.” The attacker was mentally unstable.

Still, the attack shows how the emotion fueled by the Middle East conflict can make ordinary people do the unspeakable, says Spielman. “You have to be aware that every post on social media can trigger something. You must be aware of this responsibility.”

A news scout (40), who happened to be at the scene of the arson attack, says that security personnel surprised the man. “The synagogue was full of gasoline, he probably wanted to set the whole building on fire.” The police then quickly arrived at the scene with a large contingent.

According to a statement from the Zurich city police, the perpetrator poured gasoline at the entrance of the synagogue. When an employee from the internal security service approached him, he fled on foot. The Zurich city police then launched a manhunt and the Forensic Institute found traces at the crime scene.

After that the Zurich cantonal police took over the further processing of cases. The perpetrator, a 32-year-old Swiss man who was mentally disturbed, was arrested by the Zurich cantonal police at night. Based on initial investigations by the city police, the perpetrator acted alone. There is no terrorist motive in the foreground.