Ultra-Orthodox Jew stabbed in possible anti-Semitic attack in Milan

Victim, named as 40-year-old Nathan Graff, sustains light to moderate wounds; attacker flees scene

By ToI Staff 13 November 2015, 12:26 am

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The Milan Cathedral, August 11, 2008 (Chen Leopold/Flash90)

A 40-year-old ultra-Orthodox Jewish man was stabbed multiple times Thursday in a possible anti-Semitic attack in front of a kosher restaurant in the Italian city of Milan.

The attacker fled the scene.

The man, named by Israel’s Ynet news website as Nathan Graff, sustained light to moderate injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Graff, who holds Israeli citizenship, was stabbed four times, including in his face, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported. According to a statement by the Milan Jewish community, he was slashed 10 times.

The Jewish community leaders said they hoped this was an “isolated incident.”

Police were investigating the attack.

Witnesses said they saw a hooded Arab man fleeing the scene. Others claimed to have seen a woman dressed in a traditional Islamic headdress. Some residents in the area also said they heard the attacker shout “I’ll kill you” twice in Italian, according to La Repubblica.

“We are afraid that this is an attempt to mimic the attacks in Israel,” a member of the local Jewish community told the Italian news site, referring to the recent wave of stabbing attacks on civilians and Israeli soldiers.