MDR documentary: Remembering five years after the terrorist attack in Halle

MDR documentary: Remembering five years after the terrorist attack in Halle

Leipzig (ots)

On October 9, 2019, a tragic and disturbing event occurred in Halle that was characterized by anti-Semitism. On this day, celebrated in the Jewish community as Yom Kippur, the highest holiday, a synagogue was the target of a brutal attack. Around 52 community members present were thrown into panic by the sudden sound of gunfire. The attackers, motivated by a threatening and hateful apparatus, left two dead and numerous traumatized survivors.

The documentary “The Attack – Terror in Halle and Wiedersdorf”, produced by 42film on behalf of MDR, offers a sensitive insight into the events of the day in question. The film will be broadcast on MDR television on October 8th at 8:15 p.m. and allows viewers to experience the events from the perspective of survivors and eyewitnesses. The focus is on the perspectives of the people who were in the synagogue and in the adjacent “Kiez Döner” snack bar.

A harrowing day

The day started inconspicuously. People were thinking about the holidays, and the Jewish community in Halle was expecting visitors from Berlin. But at noon, at 12:01 p.m., the holiday turned into a nightmare. Christina Feist, one of those present, describes the tense atmosphere: "It wasn't clear to us where this perpetrator was, how many there were." Her account illustrates the deep fears and uncertainty that prevailed during the incident.

The door to the synagogue was able to withstand the massive bombardment, which saved the lives of those present. The perpetrator, however, found his first victim outside the synagogue - a passerby on the street. The situation escalated further when he shot around in the kebab neighborhood and fatally injured the 20-year-old painter's assistant Kevin S.. Conrad Rössler also describes his experiences: “It felt like a panic attack.”

The documentary highlights the change in the reality of many people's lives as a result of this attack. The people affected carry the physical and emotional wounds within themselves. The memory of this terrible day remains alive even years later and accompanies the survivors in their everyday lives.

For many it is difficult to process what has happened. Dr. Ezra Waxman, another survivor, speaks of a personal confrontation with his own Judaism and the fears that anti-Semitism can cause. “Halle was a kind of ‘slap in the face’ for me,” he explains, describing his experiences with deep-rooted anti-Semitism.

Pre-performance and memorial events

In advance of the film's broadcast, MDR is hosting a preview of the film in the Puschkinhaus in Halle on October 8th at 5:30 p.m., followed by a dialogue with the audience. This preview not only offers insights into the documentary, but also promotes conversation about the events and their aftermath.

On the actual anniversary of the attack, October 9th, several commemorative events are planned in Halle, at which Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will also be represented. The MDR will broadcast the ceremony, which begins in the Ulrichskirche, both in a live stream on MDR.de and on the DAB+ channel “MDR SACHSEN-ANHALT extra”. Witnesses to the attack and relatives are expected to speak out to keep the memory of those who died alive.

The entire documentary “The Attack – Terror in Halle and Wiedersdorf” and the accompanying series “ARD Crime Time: The Attack in Halle” are already available in the ARD media library and offer a comprehensive overview of the topic and individual perspectives of those affected.