A 65-year-old man was seriously injured this week after being brutally attacked for wearing an Israeli flag pin in the town of Hochberg, near the city of Würzburg in the German state of Bavaria.
According to a statement from German police and prosecutors, the suspected attacker is a 20-year-old Syrian citizen. He has been arrested and is being held on suspicion of attempted murder, with investigators examining whether antisemitic and anti-Israeli motives were behind the attack.
According to the authorities, the incident occurred during the night between Sunday and Monday.
The suspect noticed the Israeli flag pin the man was wearing, approached him, and an argument ensued. At one point, the attacker struck the victim in the face, knocked him to the ground, and continued kicking him in the head and upper body even after he had fallen.
The victim managed to try to escape, but the attacker chased him and continued beating him until police officers who were nearby subdued and arrested the suspect. The victim was taken to the hospital suffering, among other injuries, a fractured vertebra and severe trauma.
Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, strongly condemned the attack. German media quoted a statement released by the Israeli Embassy in Berlin, in which Prosor said, “How many Palestinian flags do you see every day in every city? Dozens. They can be displayed openly anywhere. But one small Israeli flag puts lives at risk. In 2026. In Germany."
"This is not only an attack on one individual, but on the values upon which democratic society is built. Anyone who attacks a person simply for wearing an Israeli flag pin is attacking not only a Jew or an Israeli - they are attacking Germany itself," he added.
Protests erupt against antisemitic violence in Würzburg
On Friday, a protest rally titled Against Antisemitic Violence was held in central Würzburg.
Participants expressed solidarity with the victim of the attack, called for determined action against antisemitism, and announced a fundraising campaign to support him. The rally's organizers emphasized that the attack is not an isolated incident but rather a reflection of escalating violence against Jews and supporters of Israel in Germany.
The Federal Association of Departments for Research and Information on Antisemitism reported last month that it documented 8,725 antisemitic incidents in Germany during 2025 - an average of 24 antisemitic incidents every day of the year, totaling 24 incidents per day across all 365 days.
The published report shows that the number of incidents has risen steadily since the October 7, 2023 massacre and continues to affect the lives of Jews in Germany.
Compared with 2022, the number of incidents has more than tripled. Israel-related antisemitism accounted for approximately two-thirds (68%) of all recorded incidents.