Police thwarted the firebombing of the main synagogue here shortly before Shabbat, catching the man who apparently intended to throw a Molotov cocktail at the structure.
The man, a Hungarian 45-year-old who was not named, has not been charged with any crime.
Apparently, his attempt to throw the Molotov cocktail – a bottle filled with gasoline, wrapped with a rag or plugged with a wick, and then ignited – was unsuccessful because police guarding the Dohany Street Synagogue saw him.
The man, who was inside the courtyard of the synagogue at that point, tried to escape. He left behind his bag, in which police found other Molotov cocktails.
After he was apprehended, he was interrogated at local police headquarters.
Police said no evidence existed that would connect the man to an anti-Semitic or racist group.
His motive also was not known, police said. “He might have wanted to commit suicide,” one police officer said in an interview.
The president of the Jewish community, peter Feldmayer, excoriated the handling of the case, saying that an anti-Semitic motive should not be ruled out.
Feldmayer also said most synagogues here are not well-guarded, making them easy targets for attack.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
