Tuesday 6, February
Jewish student at Freie Universität attacked by classmate over the weekend
Before the incident, 30-year-old student Lahav Shapira was drinking in a bar in Mitte. Exactly what happened next is disputed, but we know for certain that it ended with the Jewish student being beaten up and hospitalised. According to statements on social media from his brother, Shahak Shapira, he has now undergone surgery and is “doing ok”.
The police report states that an “argument developed” between the victim and his aggressor, whom police and the university have identified as a 23-year old fellow student at Freie Universität. In the past months, FU has been the site of much political protest over the war in Gaza. Shapira was among those arguing against the pro-Palestinian stance of his fellow students. Investigators believe that this political dispute was also the motivation behind the attack. However, according to the victim’s brother, there was no preceding argument: Lahav was simply recognised, followed, and punched in the face, unannounced. The perpetrator fled following the attack, but was later found by police at his home address.
The attack has been widely condemned from all sides, with the FU announcing that the university may enforce a campus ban against the perpetrating student.
