Man assaulted, wounded outside synagogue in German city

BERLIN (AP) - A man was assaulted and wounded outside a synagogue in Hamburg on Sunday, police said. The suspected perpetrator was arrested, and Germany's foreign minister denounced the assault as 'œrepugnant anti-Semitism.'ť

The 26-year-old victim, who was apparently about to enter the synagogue grounds, was hit in the head with what appeared to be a folding spade, police said. The suspect, a 29-year-old German man, was wearing military-style clothing.

The victim was given first aid at the scene by passers-by, then taken to a hospital with injuries that were described as 'œsignificant'ť but not life-threatening.

Officers who were on hand to protect the synagogue arrested the suspect, a police statement said. It added that the background to the assault is under investigation.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, which first reported on the assault, said that the victim is a Jewish student who was wearing a skullcap. Police later said that the suspect, a German with Kazakh roots, left an 'œextremely confused impression'ť and questioning him was difficult.

News agency dpa reported, without citing sources, that the suspected assailant had a piece of paper with a swastika in his pocket.

The assault, which occurred during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, comes amid heightened concern in Germany over anti-Semitism and far-right extremism.

Nearly a year ago, a heavily armed white supremacist targeted a synagogue in the eastern German city of Halle on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. He killed a passer-by and a man at a nearby kebab stall after failing to force his way into the building.

Security has since been increased at Jewish institutions across the country.

'œThis is not an isolated case - this is repugnant anti-Semitism and we must all stand up against it,'ť German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tweeted.