MUNICH — Law enforcement officials in southern Germany have confirmed they are working under the assumption that an antisemitic motive lies behind a destructive overnight attack on an Israeli-owned restaurant in the heart of Munich, local police announced Friday. The incident unfolded in the early hours of the morning, when unknown perpetrators damaged the eatery by shattering its glass windows. No individuals present or nearby were harmed in the attack, authorities confirmed.
Multiple law enforcement sources shared details with German national news agency DPA, noting that the restaurant’s owners identify as Jewish. While official police statements did not publicly name the targeted establishment, photos and footage of the post-attack scene confirm the location as Eclipse Grillbar. According to the restaurant’s official website, it holds the distinction of being Munich’s first fully authentic Israeli dining establishment. Representatives from the eatery did not immediately respond to media requests for comment in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Investigators’ preliminary assessments indicate the attackers used pyrotechnic devices – most likely commercial fireworks – which were thrown into the restaurant space. The projectiles left three separate broken window panels in their wake. Emergency dispatch received the first report of the attack at approximately 12:45 a.m. local time, and responding officers conducted a immediate sweep of the surrounding area, but were unable to locate any suspects at the scene. As of Friday’s update, the identity of the perpetrator or group of perpetrators remains unknown, and the investigation remains active. Early estimates place the total property damage from the attack at several thousand euros, equivalent to a similar amount in U.S. dollars.
This incident comes against a well-documented backdrop of sharply rising antisemitic incidents across Germany, a shift that followed the October 7, 2023, cross-border attack on Israel by Hamas-led militant groups. During that attack, Hamas fighters killed roughly 1,200 people, the vast majority of whom were unarmed civilians, and abducted 251 additional people to hold as hostages in Gaza. While a two-week ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas is currently in effect, and both Israel and the U.S. have carried out targeted strikes against Iranian-linked assets in recent weeks, the broader regional conflict remains tense. Israel has notably ramped up its military offensive against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon even during the current ceasefire with Hamas, keeping regional tensions elevated and contributing to a polarized environment that has fueled anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment across Europe.