GRAPH: Number of antisemitic acts jumps in France

This year has seen the highest number of antisemitic acts in at least 30 years. Almost 500 people have been arrested

The number of antisemitic acts recorded in France has reached a 30-year high, with the acts recorded in the last month alone higher than in any full year before at least 1992.

Over 1,000 acts have been recorded since October 7 (the date of Hamas’ attack against Israel) in the country, stated Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.

“The number has exploded,” said Mr Darmanin, particularly in Paris, where over 250 acts had been recorded in less than a month.

The graph below shows the escalation of last month’s figures compared to recent annual tallies.

Credit: The Connexion / VisActu

Mr Darmanin added that out of the 486 arrests, 102 were “étrangers”, i.e not French citizens.

Stars of David tagged on Parisian buildings

One common act recently is the graffiting of blue stars of David (the six-sided star associated with Judaism) on buildings.

Several were recorded over the last week in Paris, with prefect of the capital’s police force Laurent Nuñez calling it a “coordinated action… [which] seems to involve a team of perpetrators.”

He added, however, that there was no “specific type” of person caught committing antisemitic acts in the capital.

“We find all profiles, young kids who say very serious things,” he said, but also "people who are more rooted in defending the pro-Palestinian cause and who get out of hand.”

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