“Dirty Jew, we are going to suffocate you with gas”: Eleven-year-old Jewish boy violently attacked just south of Paris
An eleven-year-old Jewish boy was allegedly attacked in France by two fourteen-year-olds in what is believed to be an antisemitic attack.
The incident took place in Essonnes, just south of Paris, in September, but has only now been revealed by Le Parisien.
According to a court account, the victim was walking home from school with his classmates when he was approached by the two suspects, who asked him if he was Jewish. When he said yes, they reportedly began to beat and choke him while verbally abusing him.
One of the assailants allegedly said: “Dirty Jew, we are going to suffocate you with gas as they did before to the Jews,” before putting his hand on the victim’s mouth. They told the victim to “surrender” before slamming him to the ground and performing Nazi salutes.
The abuse reportedly continued every day for a week until the victim told his parents. It is understood that the suspects will be charged with crimes related to antisemitic violence.
It is believed that one of the suspects claimed during questioning that he did not know what a Nazi salute was, while the other suspect did admit to understanding the gesture. One of their lawyers suggested that the pair had been influenced by a violent video game.
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