Police and criminal investigators are currently examining the cause of the blaze. In addition, the cemetery’s walls were vandalised with a swastika next to the word “Hitler”.
The attack was condemned by Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer. “Antisemitism has no place in our society and will be fought against by any political and legal means necessary,” he said.
Opposition leader Andreas Babler of the Social Democratic Party said: “The protection of the Jewish community is of the highest priority. We stand side by side with Jews. ‘Never again’ is now.”
Deutsch urged those who wished to show their solidarity with the Austrian Jewish community to come to a demonstration being held on Thursday on Vienna’s Heldenplatz.
Organised by the local initiative Yes We Care, attendees are due to form a “sea of lights” for the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and against “antisemitism, terror, violence, and hate”.
