‘’My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims, and with the Jewish community in Germany and in all Europe which has been the target of anti-Semitic attacks in the last few years’’

BRUSSELS—‘’I am shocked by the brutal attack in Halle – on this day, Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism,’’ said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker following Wesdnesday antisemitic attack on a synagogue in the eastern Germany city of Halle, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.

‘’My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims, and with the Jewish community in Germany and in all Europe which has been the target of anti-Semitic attacks in the last few years,’’ Juncker wrote on Twitter.

‘’The rising anti-Semitism must be a call on Europeans to act. We stand on this day in solidarity with the Jewish community,’’ the European leader added.

The attack, in which two people have been killed and two others injured nearby the synagogue,  sent shockwaves across Germany. Authorities have arrested a 27-year-old German, Stephan B. and have indicated that they believe he acted alone.

Police said the man had no previous arrests, but his targets suggest that he had anti-Semitic and xenophobic beliefs. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said that anti-Semitism was certainly one of the shooter’s motives.