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🇫🇷 France /Conflict & Security

Lyon: Arson attack targets mother of man accused of antisemitism at Thai animal park

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A man who owns an animal park in Thailand, Kévin D., announced that his mother's home in Lyon, France, was targeted in an arson attack.
  • The attack follows Kévin D.'s public statements refusing entry to Israeli tourists and displaying a target over an Israeli flag at his park.
  • French authorities have opened an investigation into attempted murder and dangerous property damage following the incident.

The Lyon home of a woman whose son owns an animal park in Thailand was deliberately set ablaze, with authorities investigating the incident as attempted murder and dangerous property damage. Kévin D., the owner of the park on the island of Koh Samui, announced the arson attack on his mother's residence in Lyon, France, on Wednesday morning.

They threw Molotov cocktails at my mother's house in France, in Lyon.

— Kévin D.The owner of an animal park in Thailand announced that his mother's home in Lyon, France, was the target of an arson attack.

Kévin D. has recently become embroiled in a significant controversy after videos surfaced showing him making discriminatory and threatening remarks towards the Jewish community. In one video, he stated, "Stay home, Jews, stay away from my park. Don't try (sic), since this morning they've been trying to come. You're going to get slapped, I'm telling you." Another image depicted a sign at the park's entrance with a crossed-out Israeli flag, suggesting a ban on Israeli nationals, placed next to a target.

These videos sparked outrage on social media, with some pro-Zionist accounts amplifying the controversy and, at times, calling for violence. Kévin D. claims to have received numerous death threats, providing screenshots as evidence. He has maintained that he is not racist and has nothing against Jewish people, yet he stands by his decision to discriminate against Israeli tourists at his park.

Stay home, Jews, stay away from my park. Don't try (sic), since this morning they've been trying to come. You're going to get slapped, I'm telling you.

— Kévin D.Statements made by Kévin D. in discriminatory videos that circulated online.

The dispute reportedly began months ago when Kévin D. displayed a Palestinian flag at his park. He stated this was a response to the alleged poor behavior of some Israeli tourists and disagreements with members of the local Jewish community. Following the arson attack on his mother's home, Kévin D. escalated the situation further on social media, stating, "You have signed your death warrant yourself."

You have signed your death warrant yourself.

— Kévin D.Kévin D.'s response on social media to the arson attack on his mother's home.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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