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'Feared for my life': French Jew recalls antisemitic attacks in Barcelona when leaving synagogue

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A group of seven French Jewish tourists was subjected to a 40-minute antisemitic ordeal in Barcelona, fearing for their lives.
  • The incident began when a woman shouted "Free Palestine," quickly drawing a crowd that surrounded and abused the group.
  • Victims reported being spat on, humiliated, and threatened with death, with assailants indifferent to their French nationality.

A harrowing 40-minute ordeal in Barcelona left a group of seven French Jewish tourists fearing for their lives after they were surrounded, spat on, and subjected to intense antisemitic abuse. The incident occurred on the night of July 3, shortly after the group left a synagogue in the city's port area.

For 40 minutes, hundreds of people humiliated us and spat on us. There was a huge crowd around us. We feared we would be murdered. It was very scary.

— Jimmy ZaghrounZaghroun described the intense fear and abuse during the 40-minute encounter.

Jimmy Zaghroun, a 41-year-old French Jew from Paris, recounted the terrifying experience, stating that the abuse began when a woman in pro-Palestinian attire started shouting "Free Palestine." Her actions quickly incited a surrounding crowd, which encircled the Jewish tourists.

Free Palestine

— Woman in pro-Palestinian attireThis was the initial shout that reportedly incited the crowd against the Jewish tourists.

The atmosphere turned aggressive, with the crowd shouting antisemitic and anti-Israel slogans, including "Baby killers," "Jews are not wanted here," and "Death to Israel." Zaghroun reported that some individuals explicitly threatened to kill Jews. He emphasized that attempts to explain they were from France, not Israel, were ignored by the assailants.

Baby killers

— Crowd membersThese were among the antisemitic and anti-Israel slogans shouted at the group.

The group, including one member wearing traditional Jewish attire, became a visible target. Fearing for their safety, they eventually split up to escape the encirclement and managed to reach their hotel, with the mob pursuing them to the entrance. The Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain has noted the incident.

Jews are not wanted here

— Crowd membersThis slogan was part of the antisemitic abuse directed at the tourists.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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