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Attacks on Neukölln Bar: Anti-Semitism threatens the Bajszel!
After nightly attacks on the Bajszel in Neukölln, including a cobblestone throwing and arson attacks, the operator is calling for better protection.
Attacks on Neukölln Bar: Anti-Semitism threatens the Bajszel!
In the darkness of the night, as the last guests were leaving the Bajszel, the unthinkable happened: a paving stone crashed through the large window of the bar, which is located in Neukölln. It was the culmination of a series of brutal attacks on the popular meeting place, which had recently survived an arson attack. The bar owner, Andrea Reinhardt, was just about to start the evening when the stone smashed the armored window and sent the neighborhood into turmoil.
The police were quickly on the scene and took the paving stone with them to preserve evidence. But this is not the first incident of this kind. Back in September, unknown people tried to break the window with a hammer in order to throw an incendiary device into the bar. Fortunately, the employee who was in the restaurant at the time was uninjured because the safety glass withstood the attack. Reinhardt emphasizes that the attacks on the Bajszel are not just property damage, but represent a serious threat.
A place of resistance
The attacks on Bajszel are part of a worrying wave of anti-Semitic attacks. After October 7, 2023, there was massive disruption when aggressive mobsters stormed into the bar and shouted slogans such as “Free Palestine”. The walls of the bar are daubed with red Hamas triangles, marking it as a target. Despite the threats, the community remains strong and solidarity. “We show everything so that it is documented,” says Reinhardt, who is committed to better protection of the restaurant.
The Neukölln district council has expressed its solidarity with Bajszel, but not all political parties support the initiative. The Left Party and the Greens refused to support the solidarity address because they did not want to link the emotions of the Palestinian population with the attacks. Nevertheless, the bar remains a place for exchange and networking, and the guests appear unimpressed by the hate campaign. “I’m totally impressed by our audience,” says Reinhardt, “they look out for each other.” Despite the attacks, sales remain stable and the bar continues to be viewed as a safe space for everyone.