Munich prosecutors investigate death threat against Jewish leader Charlotte Knobloch after AfD election win

Threat discovered in Munich park

Authorities in Munich initiated a criminal investigation after a death threat targeting Charlotte Knobloch, the 93-year-old president of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, was discovered in the city's Englischer Garten. A passerby spotted the message written on a park bench and an adjacent rubbish bin in the southeastern part of the public park. The perpetrator used a waterproof white marker to write the threat, combining political slogans with antisemitic symbols, including a Star of David. The graffiti declared that the Alternative for Germany party had won and stated that Knobloch would be hanged the following day. Munich police secured the site and launched a public appeal for witnesses who observed suspicious behavior in the southern area of the park.

Cancellation of cultural event

Knobloch withdrew from a planned public appearance on Thursday evening immediately after Munich security officials alerted her to the discovery. The 93-year-old Holocaust survivor was scheduled to take part in a panel discussion at the Fat Cat cultural centre, housed in the city's former Gasteig complex. The event was organized for Süddeutsche Zeitung journalist Ronen Steinke to present his latest book. A representative for the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde confirmed that the withdrawal was a direct reaction to the named threat against her. Officials from the organization explained that the cancellation applied strictly to that single event and did not extend to future public engagements. Munich police stated that their operational assessment showed no indication of an acute, immediate threat to Knobloch at the venue.

Criminal investigation by state security

The investigation was formally assigned to the Munich state security division and the Munich General Public Prosecutor's Office. Senior Public Prosecutor Andreas Franck, who serves as the central antisemitism commissioner for the Bavarian prosecution service, confirmed that inquiries were opened on charges of incitement to hatred, making criminal threats, and property damage. Franck stated that the case involves one of the most prominent leaders of Jewish life in Germany. Investigators are examining the precise timing of the graffiti, which was detected between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, and have asked visitors to the Englischer Garten to provide any relevant photographic or eyewitness evidence.

Political context and previous warnings

The graffiti directly referenced the Alternative for Germany after the party placed first in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt on the preceding Sunday. Knobloch, who previously served as president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, reacted to the election outcome with statements expressing deep concern for democratic stability.

The election result from Saxony-Anhalt is a sign that the statics of democracy in our country are no longer working, and I say quite openly: that scares me.

In subsequent comments, Knobloch stated that she struggled to recognize her homeland when far-right groups win elections, urging democratic citizens and constitutional institutions to defend legal norms. Her post-election remarks followed an interview with Stern magazine in August, during which she drew historical comparisons regarding the political evolution of the party. In that interview, she stated that she saw no distinction in many areas between the AfD and the NSDAP prior to the latter taking power, pointing out that earlier extremist movements similarly began on a small scale before expanding their ambitions.