Berlin Police Chief Barbara Slowik has advised Jewish citizens and openly gay people to “be more careful” in certain neighborhoods with large Arab majorities.
“There are areas in which I would recommend people who wear a kippah – the small cap worn by Jews – or who are openly homosexual to be more careful,” he told the German newspaper. Berliner Zeitung.
Slowik has not only asked them to be more careful, but has also warned of the sympathy that there may be in these areas with “terrorist groups”without specifying which ones.
“Unfortunately there are certain neighborhoods in which there is a majority of Arab origin that also feels sympathy for terrorist groups. Anti-Semitism is expressed there against people of faith and Jewish origin,” he added.
The head of the police of the German capital has assured that since October 7, 2023, some 6,200 investigationsalthough the majority have been through messages on social networks or graffiti. 1,300 of those investigations are for violent incidents, but the majority were directed against the police.
“The number of crimes against Jewish citizens is low“Fortunately,” he said. “I am very concerned, however, that the Jewish-Israeli community in Berlin is afraid of being the target of attacks,” he said.
Slowik’s statements come days after a Jewish youth soccer team was chased by young Arabs after a game. The match was held in Neukoelln, a neighborhood in the German capital known for its large Arab and Turkish population.
The attackers shouted “Free Palestine” and “damn Jews” while they threatened them with knives and sticks. The police are already investigating what happened.
At the beginning of November, a fan of Makkabi Berlin who was wearing the club’s scarf (which has the Star of David in its logo) was punched and had to be taken to the hospital.
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