Brandenburg’s Andreas Büttner said a fire had been set next to his property. This was the second attack on the official in the past 16 months.
A property belonging to the German state of Brandenburg’s antisemitism commissioner was on Sunday targeted in a suspected arson attack.
The commissioner, Andreas Büttner, posted about the fire on his X account, saying his family had been home at 03:40 am CET — the time the fire broke out — while also thanking police and the fire brigades in his town of Templin, located some 70 kilometers (43 miles) to Berlin’s north.
“We are physically not injured, but are shaken by a serious attack,” said Büttner. He went on to say that the fire was directed at him personally, his family and his home.
“It is the expression of hate and intimidation,” he wrote, adding he will not be intimidated.
“Such actions will not lead to me being quieter or to me questioning my approach — they only give me strength in what I do.”
This is the second recent attack against the official, after his car was scratched with swastikas in August 2024.
What is known about the attack?
While the motives are still being investigated, police said an anti-constitutional symbol was found painted near Büttner’s home.
Sources told German news agency dpa the symbol in question was a red triangle, related to Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. It was found on the neighboring house’s door entrance.
The state of Brandenburg’s most high-ranking politicians showed solidarity with Büttner, including Premier Dietmar Woidke and Interior Minister Rene Wilke, both of the social-democratic SPD party.
Wilke labeled Büttner’s work as “a special service to the state and its people,” with the interior minister adding: “We will continue to stand by Mr. Büttner.”
Germany saw a rise in antisemitic crimes during the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Edited by: Kieran Burke
DW News
