Man arrested after rabbi allegedly spat on in antisemitic attack in Hamburg
Police are investigating reports a rabbi was accosted and spat on in Hamburg
A 45-year-old man has been arrested after a rabbi was allegedly spat on and accosted in an antisemitic attack in Hamburg.
Shlomo Bistritzky, regional chief rabbi in Hamburg, and Eliezer Noe left a meeting with Mayor Peter Tschentscher in Hamburg city hall on Thursday when a passerby allegedly threatened them and spat on them, German media reported.
Bistritzky told the Hamburg Abendblatt that the man had first said “Shalom” to them. “Then he said something that sounded threatening. We faced him and asked him what he had said,” he said. “He then reached under his shirt and pulled out [a lighter] … and began to threaten us verbally.”
Bistritzky claims the man held out the open flame while spewing insults and spitting at them and speaking in Arabic and German.
Officers reportedly attempted to speak with the man, who tried to flee, but later made an arrest placing a “spit protection hood” on the suspect.
Bistritzky told the Abendblatt that he “never thought something like this could happen in Hamburg, let alone in this spot. We took it as a bad sign, too, that the attacker was released after two hours.”
State police have taken over the investigation.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
