A shed on the property of Brandenburg Commissioner for Combating Antisemitism Andreas Büttner was set on fire in a suspected arson attack on Sunday before dawn, according to the German politician and Brandenburg Police.
The shed was set alight while Büttner’s family was home, but the commissioner and police said in statements that they were not harmed in the incident.
Police said that an “unconstitutional symbol” was painted directly adjacent to the shed, which Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor said on X/Twitter was the red inverted triangle, a symbol popularized in Hamas propaganda to denote an enemy target.
Police are investigating the incident as suspected arson.
Büttner said that the incident represented a “massive escalation” directed against him, his family, and his home, but he would not be intimidated.
“Anyone who believes that they can achieve something through violence, arson, or threats is mistaken,” Büttner said on X. “Such acts do not lead to me becoming quieter or questioning my commitment – they strengthen me in what I do.”
Brandenburg officials condemn the arson
Brandenburg Minister President Dietmar Woidke and Brandenburg Interior Minister René Wilke condemned the suspected arson in a joint statement, assuring that extremism had no place in the state.
“Violence against persons or things is and remains absolutely unacceptable,” the politicians said on Instagram.
Prosor said that his thoughts were with Büttner and his family, and argued that the incident was demonstrative of the violence of the radical elements of the pro-Palestinian movement.
“For the radical part of the “Palestine solidarity” movement is not only antisemitic, but terrorist. Attacks on those who think differently and attempted murder: That is what the Hamas triangle stands for – in Gaza as in Brandenburg. And the hatred of Israel goes hand-in-hand with hatred of our democracy,” Prosor said on X. “The rule of law must smash these terrorist organizations – and indeed, before they strike again.”