Arson attack on property of German anti-Semitism commissioner

A property belonging to the anti-Semitism commissioner of the German state of Brandenburg was targeted in a suspected arson attack, the official, Andreas Büttner, told dpa on Sunday.

The state security service has launched an investigation into the incident in the town of Templin, about 70 kilometres north of Berlin, police said.

The authorities were informed at around 3:40 am (0240 GMT) on Sunday about a fire in a shed on the property. The fire brigade was alerted and extinguished the fire. No one was injured.

An anti-constitutional symbol was found painted near the shed, the police said, adding that background to the attack and the motives are being investigated.

According to information from security sources, a red triangle, the symbol of the Palestinian Islamist militia Hamas, was found on the front door of the adjacent house.

"My family was in the house at the time. We are physically unharmed, but we are under the impression of a serious attack," Brandenburg Anti-Semitism Commissioner Büttner said. "I will not be intimidated by this."

Brandenburg Premier Dietmar Woidke condemned the act, stressing that "extremism in any form has no place" in the state, which surrounds the capital.

"Violence against people or property is and remains absolutely unacceptable," Woidke said. "The police have launched an investigation and I hope that the perpetrator or perpetrators will be caught quickly.”

Brandenburg Interior Minister René Wilke also assured Büttner of the state's solidarity, saying he "performs a special service for the state and its people," Wilke said. "We will continue to stand by Mr Büttner."