An unknown person arrived at the Rimon kosher pizzeria in central Madrid, while the restaurant was full of customers, and tried to set it on fire. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, ended without casualties, after the pizzeria staff responded quickly and prevented the fire from spreading.
According to a report by the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain and the Jewish community of Madrid, the incident occurred at 10:39 p.m., when the suspect entered the restaurant and poured a flammable substance with a strong smell of gasoline at the entrance. He immediately lit a fire in the restaurant – which was reportedly full of customers at the time – and fled. The owners of the place called the police, who arrived shortly after, the federation said.
The Rimon Pizzería is located at 37 Viriato Street, near a synagogue, and is highly rated by users; it is a popular entertainment destination for Israeli tourists as well.
"The Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain and the Jewish Community of Madrid condemn this antisemitic act, which aimed to harm and sow fear in the Jewish community," read a statement from the federation. "This is a despicable and savage act, motivated by hatred, that undermines the coexistence, freedom and tolerance that have always characterized the citizens of Madrid. This is an antisemitic act aimed at causing victims."
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Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, Jewish culinary institutions around the world have become strategic targets for hate crimes. Just a few weeks ago, the Miriam restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, was vandalized. It is a kosher restaurant that is considered iconic among the city's Jewish community. In November 2023, about a month after the outbreak of the war, 900 chefs and restaurateurs in North America signed a petition calling for a boycott of Israeli restaurants and Israeli food, in protest of the attacks in Gaza. Shortly thereafter, pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrating outside an Israeli restaurant in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City broke tables, spray-painted the Israeli flag that was displayed at the entrance in a red triangle that is associated with Hamas videos, and threatened the employees there.