Six Jewish minors attacked outside movie theater in Paris suburb
Assailants reportedly slap, hurl antisemitic abuse at the youths; mayor denounces assault, which comes amid surging antisemitism in France
Six Jewish minors were assaulted on Saturday outside a movie theater in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret, French newspaper Le Figaro reported, amid rising concern about antisemitism in the country.
The three assailants hurled antisemitic abuse at the minors and slapped one of them several times, the newspaper said. The Jewish youths then fled toward Jerusalem Square in the French capital’s 17th arrondissement, where they filed a police complaint.
Police opened an investigation into the incident. There were no reports of arrests.
Geoffrey Boutlard, the mayor of the 17th arrondissement, denounced the assault.
“I condemn the physical attack of an antisemitic nature to which several minors fell victim yesterday evening when leaving So Ouest,” Boutlard wrote on X, referring to the shopping center housing the movie theater where the attack occurred, adding he spoke with police about the matter.
France has been grappling with a rise in antisemitism since the Hamas-led October 7 onslaught against Israel that has further intensified in recent months, as it heads toward a legislative election and braces for the possibility of terrorism in the Olympic Games, which are set to begin in Paris in July.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the “scourge of antisemitism” after authorities charged two 13-year-old boys with the alleged antisemitic rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl in the Paris suburb of Courbevoie.
The rape has led to large rallies condemning antisemitism and made the issue of Jew-hatred central to the election campaign.
Also last week, a judicial source said 19-year-old man and a minor in the Paris area were charged with planning to carry out terror attacks on Jewish targets.
Agencies contributed to this report.
