Four arrested over graffiti at Bulgarian synagogue

Four people connected to the vandalism of a synagogue in Bulgaria’s capital city reportedly were arrested.

The World Jewish Congress reported the arrest of the four, aged 19 and 20, over the weekend, citing the Bulgarian Jewish umbrella body Shalom, the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria.

“Death to Jews” and a swastika were painted on the notice board of the synagogue in Sofia on June 4, the first day of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, the Sofia Globe reported.

Security cameras outside of the synagogue recorded the vandalism. The footage was turned over to police, according to the newspaper.

Shalom said in a statement in reaction to the incident, “Encroachment on one of the symbols of Judaism in Bulgaria is a fact that proves once again that we must all urgently start a dialogue against these acts of hatred, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in order to preserve the universal human values.”

Central Synagogue is one of two synagogues still operating in Bulgaria, according to the World Jewish Congress.