Swiss authorities pledge to fight anti-Semitism

The president of the Swiss Confederation, Samuel Schmid, has vowed that his government was committed to fighting anti-Semitism, after a synagogue was set on fire in Lugano. During a visit to Jerusalem, Schmid said all of Switzerland was in shock over Monday's attack, which was the first time in living memory that a Jewish house of worship in Switzerland had been set alight. "The government supports the investigation in order to prevent such attacks in future and to combat anti-Semitism in general," the president said. "We must never be allowed to forget what happened," Schmid said, adding that that was why it was so important to renew the memorial to Holocaust victims. Meanwhile, around 2,500 citizens attended a demonstration in Lugano to express their anger and disgust at Monday's attack.