- Title: German President commemorates synagogue shooting in Halle
- Date: 9th October 2020
- Summary: BLOOD ON TARMAC, NEXT TO WHEEL OF POLICE CAR
- Embargoed: 23rd October 2020 18:19
- Keywords: Halle Steinmeier anniversary attack gunman synagogue
- Location: HALLE, GERMANY
- City: HALLE, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA007CZEN8EF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A year after a gunman who denounced Jews opened fire outside a German synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, killing two people, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the synagogue in Halle for a commemoration service on Friday (October 9).
Steinmeier attended a wreath laying ceremony for the victims of the shooting outside the synagogue before speaking at a commemoration service. "One year ago today, a nightmare came true in broad daylight here in Halle. In the middle of Germany. In Germany of all places," Steinmeier told the audience, "As the German President I feel deep sadness, but I also feel shame and anger one year later. This 9th of October has also engraved itself in my memory."
Steinmeier said German people needed to show that they would not tolerate any form of anti-Semitism. "More than that, that we actively combat it. And this fight concerns all of us, because anti-Semitism is a seismograph of the state of our democracy. The more open it is shown, the stronger our values are challenged as well as our tolerance and respect for human dignity," he said.
The perpetrator fatally shot a woman outside the synagogue after unsuccessfully trying to open the gates to the synagogue and then a man inside a nearby kebab shop.
About 70 to 80 other people inside the synagogue observing Yom Kippur managed to barricade themselves inside before police arrived.
(Production: MDR Pool, Susanne Neumayer-Remter, Ulrike Heil) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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