Indictment for attack on Israeli flag in front of town hall
Around a month after an attack on an Israeli flag raised in solidarity in Augsburg, the public prosecutor's office has charged two young men. An 18-year-old is accused of climbing the flagpole on Augsburg's Rathausplatz on October 13 and tearing down the flag.
The man then allegedly tried to pin the flag to the ground. The second defendant, who is also 18 years old, is accused of filming the act in order to distribute the video on social networks, chief public prosecutor Andreas Dobler reported on Friday. Several media outlets had previously reported on the charges.
Due to the age of the two adolescents, the charges were brought before the juvenile court judge at Augsburg district court. The court must now decide whether the case will be heard in public. The alleged main perpetrator was charged with violating the flags and national emblems of foreign countries and damaging property, while the second man was charged with aiding and abetting the crime.
The crime had attracted nationwide attention, particularly because a courageous passer-by intervened and prevented the flag from being burned. A video of the woman's intervention was widely distributed.
A few days later, another Israel flag was torn down on Rathausplatz in Augsburg. Witnesses again observed two men. According to the police, however, no suspects have yet been identified in this case.
The city of Augsburg has announced that in the coming weeks the flag raised in solidarity with Israel because of the Hamas terror attack will no longer be flown, nor will the national flag of Ukraine. Instead, flags that generally promote peace will be raised. "The Israeli and Ukrainian flags will continue to be raised on special occasions," the city emphasized.
Nevertheless, the announcement to take down the Israeli flag caused considerable criticism of the city administration. Among others, the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, criticized the city.
The incident of flag desecration might be seen as an example of extremist behaviors related to conflicts between different nations and faiths. Recently, there have been reports of similar crimes, such as the tear-down of another Israeli flag in Augsburg, indicative of a growing trend of hate crimes against minority communities.
Source: www.dpa.com
