A 13-year-old boy was brutally attacked in a serious antisemitic incident Monday night in Paris’s 18th arrondissement while on his way to a synagogue. According to authorities, five individuals assaulted the boy, beat him, threatened him with a knife and robbed him, while shouting antisemitic slurs and incitement.
According to a statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office, the attack occurred at around 7:20 p.m. on Boulevard de la Chapelle. The boy told investigators that he was holding his kippah in his hand as he walked toward the synagogue. At some point, five men set upon him, demanded that he hand over his coat and empty his pockets.
The attackers subjected the boy to severe violence. He was knocked to the ground, punched in the face, and had a knife pressed against his neck. During the assault, his AirPods were stolen. The victim also reported that the assailants made antisemitic remarks throughout the attack.
At the time of the incident, the boy was on a video call with another person, who managed to identify one of the attackers. As a result, an 18-year-old suspect was arrested at his home and taken in for questioning at the police station in the 18th arrondissement. The four other attackers have not yet been apprehended.
The prosecutor’s office said the investigation is continuing on suspicion of armed robbery and aggravated violence committed by a group and motivated by discrimination. Police are working to locate and arrest the remaining suspects.
The incident comes amid a worrying surge in antisemitic acts in France. According to figures from the French Interior Ministry, since October 2023 the number of antisemitic incidents has tripled, alongside a rise in physical attacks against Jews and people wearing religious symbols, particularly in the Paris area.