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Ulm District Court: Defendant in the courtroom
Photo: Stefan Puchner / dpa
More than two years after an arson attack on the Ulm synagogue, the Ulm Regional Court has sentenced the defendant to two years and nine months in prison. The 47-year-old was found guilty of attempted aggravated arson and damage to property harmful to the public.
On Tuesday, the chamber considered it proven that the Turk had tried to set fire to the synagogue in June 2021. In addition, the Chamber concluded that the act was motivated by anti-Semitism.
With the verdict, the court complied with the request of the public prosecutor's office. According to a court spokeswoman, the defense lawyer had previously requested a fine of 180 daily rates. The court considered it proven that the man poured a bottle of gasoline on the outer wall of the synagogue and set it on fire. The crime caused burn marks on the façade, and soot contaminated a window. The damage amounted to several thousand euros.
Escape to Turkey
The defendant had not given any information about the crime, but had previously commented in detail on the allegations to the psychiatric expert. At the start of the trial in December, the expert witness reported that the defendant had stated that he had wanted to draw attention to the suffering of the Palestinians in the confrontation with Israel.
The defendant's goal was to set an example, said the presiding judge in his verdict. After the crime, the man fled to Turkey. He had evaded prosecution for two years, but ultimately turned himself in. The verdict is not yet final.
The man was arrested at the beginning of July 2023 when he re-entered Germany. Politicians had condemned the attack and announced better protection of Jewish institutions. Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) had described the attack as "vile".
wit/dpa