Charlotte Knobloch targeted by death threats and antisemitic graffiti

Charlotte Knobloch, the 93-year-old president of the Israelite Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria and a Holocaust survivor, has been targeted with death threats and antisemitic graffiti. The threats, which included a Star of David, were discovered in Munich’s Englischer Garten. Following the incident, Knobloch canceled her participation in an evening event.

Bavarian antisemitism commissioner Ludwig Spaenle described the threat as “crossing every limit” and a “taboo breach,” noting that Germany stands at a crossroads. The Munich Public Prosecutor's Office has launched investigations into incitement to hatred, threats, and property damage. The threats were reportedly explicitly linked to the AfD’s recent electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt.

In response to the political climate and the AfD's performance, Knobloch expressed that her trust in German democracy has been “strongly shaken.” She characterized the AfD as right-wing extremist and called for a ban on the party, though she noted it might already be too late for such proceedings.