After a lecture at the University of Hamburg on the subject of anti-Semitism and hostility towards Jews, a 56-year-old woman was attacked and beaten. The victim then defended herself, kicking and biting the attacker ( aged 26), Hamburg police said on Friday. According to the German-Israeli Society, the 56-year-old victim is one of its board members. The woman is also the wife of the lecturer. According to reports, the thug is believed to be from Somalia. The altercation occurred on Wednesday evening during a public lecture series, during which, according to police reports, there were initially repeated heckling. After the end of the event, the 56-year-old female attendee and several women from the audience got into an argument, during which the Somali woman suddenly attacked the lecturer’s wife and punched her in the face. The woman was treated medically.
The police brought criminal proceedings against both opponents on suspicion of assault. The State Security Department of the State Office of Criminal Investigation is investigating. The University of Hamburg condemned the attack. ‘We are deeply shocked and condemn this anti-Semitic act of violence utterly,’ said University President Hauke Heekeren on Thursday. ‘The incident is absolutely unacceptable and abhorrent.’ Jewish students, staff and guests must be safe at universities ‘without ifs and buts’.
‘Law and order must be enforced at universities,’ the German-Israeli Association (DIG) also demanded. According to the DIG Hamburg, the attacker presumably comes from the pro-Palestinian milieu. The ‘cowardly attack’ is part of an increasing escalation of the situation. There have also recently been pro-Palestinian actions at other universities and colleges in Germany.
Eklat an Uni Hamburg: Frau (56) bei Antisemitismus-Lesung von Somalierin attackiert | Exxpress