AfD politician Tillschneider wants to take part in the Halle commemoration - and is blocked by a human chain

The AfD member of the state parliament, Hans-Joachim Tillschneider, tried to take part in the memorial event to commemorate the anti-Semitic attack in Halle - and was prevented from doing so. As a spokesman for the Halle police station confirmed, Tillschneider wanted to enter the synagogue grounds shortly before the commemoration event began at midday.

However, several people present formed a human chain in front of the entrance to the site, preventing the politician from taking part in the event. According to the police, it was a spontaneous gathering. Members of the assembly authority mediated between Tillschneider and the demonstrators and the situation remained calm. After a lengthy discussion, the AfD politician finally left the place.

The community chairman Max Privorozki emphasized to the “Jüdische Allgemeine” that Hans-Thomas Tillschneider had not been banned from entering the building. “It was a public event, he could have come,” said Privorozki. He did not receive a personal invitation.

The victims of the anti-Semitic attack on the synagogue seven years ago will be remembered in several events in Halle today. The acting Prime Minister Sven Schulze and his predecessor Reiner Haseloff (both CDU) also take part in the commemoration.

Tillschneider discussed the incident on Since neither the public order authority of the city of Halle nor the police intervened and no one else stopped the students, he ultimately left out of respect for the office in which he had appeared.

Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, sharply criticized Tillschneider for his appearance: "It was and is the wish of the Jewish community in Halle to dedicate this day of remembrance to the victims of the horrific attack on October 9, 2019 and not to allow any political instrumentalization. By attempting to participate, the AfD politician Hans-Thomas Tillschneider trampled on this wish," he told the "Jewish General”. “Tillschneider may refer to his role as state parliament vice-president – ​​the fact that he is also the leading mind and pioneer of the AfD state association, which is classified as a right-wing extremist movement, leaves a more than a bad aftertaste.”

Right-wing extremist shot two people seven years ago

On October 9, 2019, a heavily armed right-wing extremist tried to break into the synagogue on the highest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur. When he didn't succeed, he shot a 40-year-old passer-by and a 20-year-old guest in a nearby kebab shop.

As he fled, the assassin injured numerous other people before he was caught by the police. The Naumburg Higher Regional Court sentenced him to life imprisonment followed by preventive detention in 2020.