Berlin, October 11 (RHC)-- In Germany, a heavily armed anti-Semitic gunman killed two people outside a synagogue in the eastern city of Halle as congregants observed Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.

The gunman live-streamed the attack, spewing misogynistic, racist and anti-Semitic language before he tried to force his way into the synagogue.  The door was locked. H e shot a woman outside and then drove to a nearby kebab shop and opened fire.

Leaders of the Jewish community say there were no police stationed outside the synagogue at the time of the attack, despite the synagogue’s repeated requests for security.

Anti-Semitic crimes and xenophobic hate crimes have increased by almost 20% in Germany over the past year.