Spanish teen says neo-Nazis carved swastika into his arm
Police express doubt over veracity of account of youth, 17, who claimed he was beaten up by three men last month
A teenage boy in Spain said he was attacked by three men who beat him and carved a swastika and the number “88” — which neo-Nazis use to signify “Heil Hitler,” 8 being the numeral value of the letter H — on his forearm.
The attack allegedly occurred last month in the Spanish city of Bilbao in the autonomous Basque Country on the morning of Friday, August 28.
It is not clear if the boy, 17, is Jewish and, according to the Spanish press, police have doubts about the veracity of his account.
Basque Country does not have a sizable Jewish community, nor have any Jewish groups come forward to condemn the attack.
The alleged victim was not identified, but a photo purporting to be of his injured face and mutilated arm were circulating in the Spanish and Basque media.
Familiares de joven agredido por nazi-fascistas españoles, interponen una denuncia en el juzgado de guardia #Bilbaopic.twitter.com/08V5PFmCqU
— Sare Antifaxista (@Antifaxismoa) August 29, 2015
According to a report in ABC.es, one man was arrested in connection with the attack after he was identified by the teenager. Basque police said the investigation was ongoing at this time.
The victim said he was walking home around 7 a.m., when three men began physically assaulting him, ending the attack by carving the Nazi symbols into his arm with a razor.
According to a report in the UK paper The Mirror, the ruling left-wing political party EH Bildu denounced the alleged attack, calling it a “very serious” incident.
A spokesman for the party, Aitziber Ibaibarriaga said, “We are facing a serious incident which has caused alarm among neighbors.We are witnessing an increase in activity from a far-right cell which has been spreading hate and fear in the area.”
