Berlin: What is known about the attack on Lahav Shapira, brother of the satirist Shahak Shapira

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Berlin-Mitte: knocked down and kicked

Photo: Paul Zinken/dpa

A suspected anti-Semitic attack on the 30-year-old student Lahav Shapira is making waves in Berlin. Recently, even the capital's governing mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), commented: "This vile attack leaves me stunned," he wrote on X. Jewish people should be able to feel safe everywhere in Berlin, including at the city's universities.

Shapira was out with an acquaintance in Berlin-Mitte late on Friday evening. There they met a 23-year-old fellow student. Shapira is studying at the Free University of Berlin (FU), as is the 23-year-old apparently. According to police, an argument developed on the street between Shapira and the other man, who was said to be representing pro-Palestinian positions. Lahav Shapira was already protesting at the Free University of Berlin for the liberation of Israeli hostages from Gaza. He also took part in a protest against an occupation of a lecture hall by pro-Palestinian activists.

As the police further report, the 23-year-old then suddenly punched Shapira in the face several times. Shapira fell to the ground, the younger man continued to kick him and then fled. Shapira was taken to the hospital with multiple fractures to his face, according to police. The police identified the 23-year-old suspect, found him at home and, among other things, confiscated his smartphone. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Lahav Shapira is Jewish, he is the brother of the satirist Shahak Shapira. Both brothers have previously been victims of anti-Semitic attacks: In 2010, Lahav was insulted as a “Jewish pig” and beaten by young right-wing extremists in his then home of Laucha. Shahak was subjected to anti-Semitic attacks on New Year's Eve 2014 in Berlin.

Her paternal grandfather was Amitzur Shapira, who was taken hostage and murdered by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Her maternal grandfather was the only one in his family to survive the Holocaust.

Shapira knew the alleged perpetrator well

After the attack became public, Shapira and several people close to Shapira went public. The Israeli television station “N12 News” interviewed Shapira in his hospital bed on Sunday: “He suddenly hit me from the side, and then another; then I lost my balance. I tried to get up and he kicked me – in the face,” he said.

Shapira's mother and his companion also commented publicly. The young woman who witnessed the attack told “Zeit Online” that there had been no argument between the two men. Accordingly, the fellow student recognized Shapira in a bar and followed him when Shapira and she left the bar. On the street, the later attacker asked Shapira about his commitment to Jewish students at the university and then struck. When asked, the police referred to their written report on the attack.

Nothing is known about the alleged perpetrator, except that he is also supposed to be studying at the Free University of Berlin. Shapira's companion said Shapira recognized the man, which is why police were able to find him so quickly.

Since Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel and Israel's counterattack in the Gaza Strip, a conflict has been simmering between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel students at the FU Berlin. In mid-December, pro-Palestinian activists occupied a lecture hall to demonstrate. Anti-Israel slogans are also said to have been shouted. The Federal Minister of Education, Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP), condemned the occupation with the words: "There must be no place for hatred of Israel and Jews at German universities."

Jewish and Israeli students organized a counter-protest, including Shapira. They were denied access to the room, Shapira later told the Berliner Morgenpost. The police later cleared the room. The students criticized the President of the FU, Günter Ziegler, for his hesitant actions in the occupation.

Jewish Student Union calls for consequences at the university

In an interview with "N12 News," Shapira once again referred to the situation at his university: "We Israeli students turned to the university director and asked him to start looking into this story."

The Jewish Student Union (JSUD) also called on Ziegler to draw conclusions. In a guest article for the “Welt,” the board of the JSUD wrote, “Finally stop relativizing or denying things!” What is needed is a ban on pro-Palestinian activists and groups that represent extremist and anti-Semitic positions.

The FU Berlin reacted on Monday afternoon. University President Ziegler wrote in a statement: "We are deeply horrified by the brutal, presumably anti-Semitic attack on a Jewish student at our university and condemn the act in the strongest terms." Anti-Semitism will not be tolerated. If it is confirmed that the alleged perpetrator is studying at the FU, all legal options will be examined and, if possible, a ban will be issued.