Maas warns of right-wing terror ahead of synagogue attack anniversary

Halle, Germany (dpa) – German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has described right-wing terror as “the greatest danger for our country.”

“There is a right-wing extremist motivated crime every 24 minutes in Germany. These are not isolated cases, but the bitter reality of right-wing extremists in Germany,” Maas told dpa.

The minister’s comments come as the east German city of Halle is to hold ceremonies on Friday marking the right-wing terrorist attack a year ago on the city’s Synagogue during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

Maas called on every individual to stand up to racism and right-wing extremism. “Just saying ‘never again’ is not enough. We are all called upon to play our part in making everyone in our country feel safe – no matter what they believe in, what they look like, what they are called, live or love,” he said.

It takes courage and moral courage to stand up loud and clear for democracy, freedom and respect, he said.

“It depends on all of us, because our silence makes the agitators loud”.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany Josef Schuster are expected to attend the ceremonies in Halle.

At 12:01 pm (1001 GMT) life in the city is due to come to a halt for three minutes marking the time one year ago when the first shots were fired by the gunman, the right-wing extremist Stephan Balliet, as he tried to storm the Synagogue where 52 people were attending a service.

After he failed to breach the Synagogue door, the heavily armed 28-year-old Balliet allegedly shot a 40-year-old passer-by at a kebab shop along with a 20-year-old patron.

In a bid to escape, he is also alleged to have injured several people, some of them very seriously. He is currently on trial.

As part of Friday’s ceremonies, wreaths are to be laid at the sites of the attacks along with the unveiling of a memorial at the Synagogue.

Church bells are also planned to ring out across the city, with many people expected to attend places of worship. A memorial service is also to be held at one of the city’s main churches.

The commemorations also include a conference on right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism.