Jewish tourist wearing a kippah attacked twice in Rome: "They shouted Free Palestine"

A 22-year-old Jewish tourist from France, who was wearing a kippah, was attacked twice in central Rome within a one-day interval. Italian police arrested a 31-year-old suspect, a homeless Algerian citizen with a criminal record, on suspicion of being involved in both incidents. According to the authorities, the charges include violent crimes as well as incitement to offenses based on racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination.

According to the tourist's complaint, the first incident occurred on August 7, around 20:00, at Piazza Cairoli in the center of the capital. He stated that the suspect sprayed pepper spray in his face and then shouted "Free Palestine" at him.

The next day, August 8, the tourist was attacked again, this time at Largo di Torre Argentina, just 300 meters from the site of the first attack. According to his testimony, he was surrounded by a group of four people who kicked him. He identified among the attackers the same person who was involved in the first incident. During the second attack, he said, shouts of "Free Palestine" were also heard.

The police are continuing to investigate and are attempting to locate the three other suspects. Authorities emphasize that these are allegations, and legal proceedings against the suspect are ongoing.

The incident sparked sharp reactions in Italy. The president of the Jewish community in Rome, Victor Fadlun, stated:

"Unfortunately, the open season on Jews has reached the streets of Rome."

He warned against public indifference toward manifestations of antisemitism. The President of the Italian Senate, Ignazio La Russa, also condemned the incident, saying that one must not get used to such cases and that antisemitism cannot become a "norm" that should be tolerated. Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, Antonio Tajani, clarified that Italy strongly opposes any violence directed against a person because of their religious identity. Israel's Ambassador to Italy, Yonatan Peled, said that when a Jewish person can no longer walk the streets of a city without being attacked, it is not just an issue concerning the security of a minority, but a matter of "freedom for everyone."