3 Jewish men in Vienna assaulted in possible anti-Semitic attack

An Austrian man of Turkish descent allegedly assaulted three Jewish men Thursday in a neighborhood of Vienna where many Jews live and work.

The incident occurred shortly before noon on Tabor Street in front of a kosher restaurant.

Police are looking into the possibility that the attack was anti-Semitic, the Oe24 news site reported.

The perpetrator, a 24-year-old unemployed Austrian with Turkish roots, was identified only as “Burkay S.”

All victims wore a kippah, and one had Hebrew writing on his clothes. None of the victims suffered serious injuries.

The suspect was arrested at a nearby subway station.

Before allegedly assaulting the Jewish men, he also hit a woman on the street.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Twitter that “a possible anti-Semitic background is currently being examined by the authorities.” He thanked police for apprehending the suspect.

Austria had more than 500 anti-Semitic incidents in 2017, nearly double the total from three years earlier.