Corfu, Greece – Arsonists on Tuesday broke into a synagogue on the island of Corfu and burned the community’s prayer books and torah scrolls at the start of the Jewish Passover holiday, police said, prompting condemnation from the government and Jewish groups.

The attackers broke into the synagogue through a side entrance. Firefighters put out the flames before they spread.

On Wednesday members of the community, some distraught and weeping, gathered at the synagogue and mourned over the ashes of the Torah scrolls.

An association of Greek Jewish groups called the incident a “shameful attack” and urged the authorities to increase protection at the site.

Government spokesman Giorgos Petalotis called the action “immoral and abhorrent,” and said police had been instructed to find those responsible for the break-in.

“The Greek government condemns this (attack) in the strongest possible manner … Bigotry and anti-Semitism are alien to Greek values,” he said.

Greek Police said Wednesday that they have arrested two suspects in the Corfu synagogue arson attack case. According to suspicions, the two are also involved in vandalizing the Jewish community’s offices on the Island.

(Source: Ynet)