Burglar: Anti-Semitic slogans in the cellar of a pub
Two unknown perpetrators have daubed anti-Semitic slogans in a cellar during a break-in at a pub in Berlin-Lichtenberg. The state security department responsible for political crimes is investigating the break-in on Monday night, as the police announced on Tuesday. The break-in was reported on Monday by those responsible for the pub.
According to initial findings, the burglars forced their way into the bar via cellar rooms and stole several bottles of spirits. They daubed a Star of David, the letter J and the number 88 in the cellar.
The 88 is often used in right-wing extremist circles as an equivalent to the abbreviation HH, where HH stands for the slogan "Heil Hitler". The six-pointed Star of David is a religious symbol of the Jews and is also emblazoned in the middle of the blue and white Israeli national flag.
The police gave no further details about the pub or the street in which it is located and referred to ongoing investigations.
The incident of anti-Semitic graffiti in the pub's cellar is being categorized as a potential case of hate crime and extremism by the investigating authorities. The use of the Star of David and the number 88 in this context highlights the extremist nature of the attack.
Source: www.dpa.com
