Norway – Shots Fired at the Synagogue in Oslo

At about 2:30 a.m. on the night of 17^th September 2006, shots were fired at the synagogue in the Norwegian Capital, Oslo. The shots had apparently been fired from a passing vehicle driven by two unidentified persons who quickly drove off. While no one was injured the front of the synagogue was damaged by the shots. The rabbi of the Jewish community in Oslo, Rabbi Melchior, said that antisemitic acts had increased since the outbreak of the war in Lebanon. "Since the outbreak of the war in Lebanon, the Jewish community has been suffering and enduring attacks and calls in the media such as 'We're tired of Israel and of the Jews'. Every time someone's level of emotion increases, it is channeled directly at us". Rabbi Melchior added that this was the first time that so serious a level of violence had been expressed in Oslo. "We have received reactions from [those] who identify with and support us in this incident, however this time it cannot be ignored. There have never been things of this kind in Oslo in the past and we hope that the Norwegian government will act responsibly; this is a move that must be dealt with quickly".