Shooter Was Unable to Enter German Synagogue, Saving Lives of Worshipers Inside

Shooter Was Unable to Enter German Synagogue, Saving Lives of Worshipers Inside

A man who targeted a synagogue during the Yom Kippur holiday killed two people outside but could not break through the door with gunfire or an explosive.

A gunman in Germany opened fire on a synagogue during the Yom Kippur holiday on Wednesday, live streaming the attack on the platform Twitch. He eventually killed two people in the town of Halle, one who was directly outside the synagogue and another who was at a kebab shop around the corner. >

The gunman, who has since been arrested by police, likely would have claimed several more lives if he had been able to enter the synagogue. But he was unable to break through the door to the center despite shooting at a lock and sticking an explosive in a door jam, >CNN reported>. >

The door’s ability to stand up against gunfire and an explosive protected the 51 people inside the synagogue, who were watching the attack unfold on security cameras. Police did not arrive for about 10 minutes after the first shots were fired. Max Privorozky, the head of Halle’s Jewish community, told CNN that the building had “good doors” that are “better than weapons.” 

Jewish leaders in Germany were highly concerned about the lack of police protection for the synagogue in the light of growing anti-Semitism and an increase in attacks on Jews. >

“The fact that the synagogue in Halle was not protected by the police on a holiday like Yom Kippur is scandalous," Josef Schuster, the president of Germany's Central Council of Jews, said in a statement.>

Oliver Malchow, the leader of the German police union, said that police forces do not have the ability to protect every house of worship around the clock. Synagogues in urban areas like Munich and Berlin often have police protection during holidays or throughout the year, but that was not the case in Halle. >

“I don't know if this was a mistake or if this really couldn't have been foreseen,” Malchow said on German television, according to Reuters. >

While the attack was live streamed on to Twitch, only five people saw the attack as it happened. About 2,200 people were able to view the video before the platform took it down only 30 minutes after it went online, > according to MIT Technology Review>. >

In contrast, the live stream of the Christchurch, New Zealand mosque attack was watched by hundreds live on Facebook and potentially millions of people afterward. Versions of that video still remain online. >

Twitch said it had taken action to make sure video of the Halle shooting could not be reposted elsewhere on social media. The company created a hash, or a unique cryptographic fingerprint, of the livestream and shared it with the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, a group of tech companies and governments that are working to remove versions of the video. >

“We take this extremely seriously and are committed to working with industry peers, law enforcement, and any relevant parties to protect our community,” a Twitch spokesperson >said in a statement.>

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

  • Where AI Meets Human Judgment

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It is driving business growth, shaping consumer experiences, and showing up in places most of us never imagined just a few years ago. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.