We mourn the victims of yesterday’s attacks in Copenhagen, noting once again with deep concern that a synagogue was one of the targets and calling for authorities all over Europe to provide appropriate security for Jewish communities and institutions.
While the perpetrator’s motives are not yet clear, that seems almost immaterial in light of the fact that extremists of all stripes in the recent surge of violence in Western Europe have placed Jews high on their target lists. The persistence of such anti-Semitism 70 years after the Holocaust is truly disturbing.
We welcome the statement of support and solidarity by Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and her pledge to defend Danish Jews against such hate crimes.