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The private property of Andreas Büttner — the German state of Brandenburg’s Commissioner for Combating Antisemitism — was targeted in a suspected arson attack in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Authorities say a shed on the property — located in the town of Templin, 40 miles north of Berlin — was deliberately set on fire while Buttner’s family was at home. No one was injured in the incident.
According to Brandenburg police, investigators were treating the incident as an arson case.
Officers also confirmed that an “unconstitutional symbol” was spray-painted directly next to the shed.
The home of Germany’s antisemitism commissioner, Andreas Büttner, was set on fire overnight in a targeted attack.
His family was inside the house at the time.
This is the second attack against Büttner in the past 16 months. His car was previously vandalized with swastikas. This… pic.twitter.com/cAbFnMIwQ7
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) January 5, 2026
Hamas Propaganda Symbol Discovered at Scene
The symbol was identified by Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor as the red inverted triangle — a marker widely used in Hamas propaganda to designate enemy targets.
My thoughts are with Andreas Büttner and his family. Knowing him as I do, after this attack he will only stand up even more resolutely against antisemitism.
For the radical part of the “Palestine solidarity” movement is not only antisemitic, but terrorist. Attacks on those who… https://t.co/GIR2LiGZpX— Ambassador Ron Prosor (@Ron_Prosor) January 4, 2026
The placement of the symbol near the fire has raised serious concerns that the attack was ideologically motivated. German authorities have not yet announced arrests, but the investigation is ongoing.
Buttner described the attack as a direct escalation against him and his family. He emphasized, however, that intimidation would fail. “Anyone who believes that they can achieve something through violence, arson, or threats is mistaken,” he wrote. “Such acts do not lead to me becoming quieter or questioning my commitment — they strengthen me in what I do.”
In der vergangenen Nacht wurde mein privates Grundstück Ziel eines Brandanschlags und einer Sachbeschädigung. Meine Familie befand sich zu diesem Zeitpunkt im Haus. Wir sind körperlich unverletzt, stehen aber unter dem Eindruck eines schweren Angriffs.
Ich bin dankbar für das…
— Andreas Büttner (@BuettnerAndreas) January 4, 2026
State Leaders Condemn ‘Absolutely Unacceptable’ Violence
Brandenburg’s top officials swiftly condemned the attack. In a joint statement, Dietmar Woidke, the state’s Minister President, and Rene Wilke, the Interior Minister, denounced political violence and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the rule of law.
“Violence against persons or things is and remains absolutely unacceptable,” they said, adding that extremism had no place in Brandenburg.
Ambassador Prosor, meanwhile, warned against downplaying the ideological nature of the attack. He said the incident reflected the violent core of radicalized “Palestine solidarity” activism and its convergence with antisemitism and terrorism.
“Attacks on those who think differently and attempted murder: That is what the Hamas triangle stands for — in Gaza as in Brandenburg,” he wrote, arguing that hatred of Israel often goes hand in hand with hostility toward democratic values.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
