The attack comes amid a rise in anti-Semitic incidents around the world following the war between Israel and Gaza.
Poland’s political leaders have condemned a firebomb attack on a synagogue in Warsaw.
The Nozyk Synagogue in the capital was attacked with three firebombs on Wednesday morning. The building suffered minimal damage and there were no casualties.
Police said they have not established a motive for the attack and no perpetrator has been identified. Attacks against Jewish targets have increased around the world since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October. However, it is also suspected that Russia may be trying to use the growing tension to encourage social divisions in Europe.
“We were made aware overnight of an incident involving a bottle containing a flammable liquid being thrown onto the synagogue grounds,” a police spokesperson said.
President Andrzej Duda called the attack “shameful” in a post on X. “There is no place for anti-Semitism in Poland! There is no place for hate in Poland!” said the head of state, who is closely linked to the nationalist and conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which governed Poland for eight years before losing to an opposition alliance in last year’s elections.
“We must respond very robustly and strongly to this outrageous and cruel attack,” declared Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski.
We learned that at 1am this morning, a Molotov cocktail was thrown in front of the Nożyk Synagogue.
Fortunately, no one was injured and no serious damage was caused. However, we must respond very strongly and robustly to this scandalous and cruel attack.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@PolandMFA) May 1, 2024
The staunchly pro-Western minister also noted that the incident occurred on the 20th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the European Union.
“Thank God no one was injured. I wonder who is trying to disrupt the anniversary of our EU membership,” Sikorski wrote in X. “Maybe the same ones who scribbled the Stars of David in Paris?”
In November, following the outbreak of war in Gaza, more than 200 paintings of the Star of David appeared on buildings in Paris.
France later said a Russian destabilization campaign used automated social media accounts to generate controversy and confusion over symbols and stoke alarm about rising anti-Semitism.
A Moldovan couple who were arrested in Paris for doodling Stars of David at a school told the press they acted on orders from “an individual in Russia”.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitism has soared in Europe since October 7th.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
