Molotov cocktails thrown at Berlin synagogue

A Jewish community centre and synagogue in Berlin was hit with two homemade incendiary devices in a suspected arson attack early on Wednesday morning, causing horror and outrage among the Jewish community in the German capital, reported dpa.

The Kahal Adass Yisroel community wrote that unknown attackers had thrown two Molotov cocktails from the street in the direction of their community centre on Brunnenstrasse in the Berlin district of Mitte.

Police confirmed the attack and said an investigation is ongoing.

The bottles exploded and burned but did not cause any injuries or damage to the building. The local newspaper Tagesspiegel reported that the Molotov cocktails missed the building and burned on the pavement.

Police officers assigned to provide security to the Jewish centre were present during the attempted arson attack but did not manage to arrest the perpetrators.

The building houses several Jewish institutions, including a Talmud Torah school and a synagogue, Tagesspiegel reported.

The attempted arson attack came hours after police in Berlin clashed repeatedly with protesters at unauthorized pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Those spontaneous demonstrations occurred after a devastating explosion at a hospital in the Gaza Strip killed hundreds of people.

The escalating conflict between Palestinian militant groups and Israel has raised concerns worldwide about attacks on Jewish groups.