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

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • 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.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.