Berlin, October 2: Germany's foreign minister on Friday condemned the apparent neo-Nazi defacement of a religious symbol outside a synagogue in Berlin.

Police in the German capital said a piece of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah was removed from its case at the Tiferet Israel synagogue's doorpost, defaced with swastikas and replaced. Police were alerted to the incident late Thursday. Also Read | ‘Doomsday Planes’ Fly Off US Coast as Donald Trump Tests COVID-19 Positive, Experts See ‘Warning’ to Adversaries.

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tweeted that “it simply hurt to see something so disgusting.” “This crime must be quickly solved and those responsible punished!” he said, expressing his support for the country's Jewish community. Also Read | ‘Donald Trump Paid The Price’: Editor of China’s Mouthpiece Mocks US President, First Lady for Contracting COVID-19.

German authorities have pledged to heighten security for Jewish premises following an anti-Semitic attack last year on a synagogue in Halle.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)