A suspected arson attack targeted the home of Andreas Büttner, Brandenburg's commissioner for combating antisemitism, overnight between Saturday and Sunday, according to Germany’s DPA news agency. Authorities are investigating the fire, believed to be politically motivated.
Police reported that, around 3:40 a.m., a fire broke out on Büttner’s private property in the town of Templin, about 70 kilometers north of Berlin. Firefighters responded quickly and extinguished the blaze. No injuries were reported. However, a red Hamas triangle was spray-painted on Büttner’s front door.
Büttner told DPA that his family was at home during the incident: "My family was in the house at the time. We are physically unharmed, but we are under the impression of a serious attack," he said, adding: "I will not be intimidated by this."
Brandenburg State Premier Dietmar Woidke condemned the attack in an interview with Bild. “Extremism of any kind must have no place in Brandenburg,” he said. Woidke stressed that “violence against people or property is absolutely unacceptable,” and expressed hope that those responsible will be brought to justice swiftly.
Ludwig Spaenle, Bavaria’s commissioner for Jewish Life and Against Antisemitism, also responded on social media: “It’s disgusting when a colleague is violently attacked. These people never truly cared about the people in Gaza.”
Büttner is known for his vocal support for Israel and frequently posts about antisemitic incidents on X. On October 7, 2025, he shared a photo of himself holding an Israeli flag bearing the image of the hostages, writing: “On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists and other groups attacked Israel and slaughtered people indiscriminately. We do not forget! And we do not forgive.”