A Yemeni national was arrested for allegedly throwing stones at the Israeli Consulate General in Munich on Saturday.
The Munich Police Headquarters told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that at around 11:20 a.m., police officers assigned to protect the Israeli Consulate General noticed that a man was throwing objects, which were later identified as stones, at the building.
The man, 24, subsequently attempted to barge into the embassy as he shouted, “Allahu akbar.” He was arrested on-site by the officers.
The suspect had placed a backpack with unknown contents in front of the building. Since it could not be ruled out that the bag might contain an explosive device, the police cordoned off a large radius around Karolinenplatz square.
Aftermath of the incident
After the area had been cleared of people to minimize potential risk, experts from the Special Services Police Inspectorate, together with the explosives unit of the State Criminal Police Office, examined the backpack and gave the all clear.
During the operation, the local tram service was also suspended.
The 24-year-old was reported to the authorities on charges including property damage and resisting law enforcement officers, and was admitted to a hospital due to being considered an acute danger to himself and others.
Investigation to be conducted by specialized department
A Munich Police spokesperson told the Post that it was too early to say whether the offense would be classified as a hate crime. It was confirmed, however, that the investigation was being handled by a specialized criminal investigation department responsible for politically motivated crimes.
“Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Consulate General in Munich has been attacked,” Talya Lador Fresher, Israel’s consul-general to southern Germany, told the Post. On September 5, 2024, an Austrian man with Bosnian roots shot at the consulate.
“We are grateful for the cooperation with the Munich Police, who once again acted swiftly [on Saturday],” she said. “It is important that everybody in Germany and in Munich understands the threats caused by terror-driven ideology, as we all want to live in freedom.”