The incident happened in the middle of downtown Cologne in August 2021. The alleged perpetrators and the then 18-year-old met at Kaiser-Wilhelm-Park. According to prosecutors, the attackers described the young man, who was wearing a kippah, as “Fucking Jews” insulted him, hit him, kicked him and thrown him to the ground. The man suffered injuries to his back, neck, upper body and finally a broken cheekbone. The charge is dangerous bodily harm.
Police surveillance provides images
At the scene of the attack, a Cologne police camera filmed parts of the attack. Investigators arrested two men shortly thereafter. The public prosecutor assumes that four young men were involved in the attack. According to the Cologne district court, two of the four defendants have German-Turkish citizenship and the other two have German citizenship.
horror and anger at the incident
After the attack, there were clear reactions to what happened. Cologne’s Mayor Henriette Reker reacted “with dismay and regret“to the act of violence.”Everyone in our city must be able to live without fear, no matter what religion you belong to, what worldview you have and how you live and love” she explained.
If Jewish life here is only possible in secret, then it has no future. Hard penalties against the attackers are now the minimum.
Charlotte Knobloch, President of the Jewish Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria
According to prosecutors, the young man who was attacked did not suffer any permanent physical damage. His kippah is said to have been stolen from him.
The local time in Cologne reported on the topic on April 18, 2023 on radio and television.
