Jewish Child Held at Knifepoint in Paris, Four Assailants Remain at Large

A 13-year-old Jewish boy was tripped, punched and had a knife held to his throat while walking to a synagogue in central Paris on Monday night, in what prosecutors are investigating as an antisemitic armed robbery.

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office said the attack took place around 7:20 p.m. in the city’s 18th arrondissement. The boy was identifiable as Jewish, as he was holding his kippah and on his way to synagogue when the assault occurred.

According to the prosecutor, “He said he was holding his kippah in his hand and was going to the synagogue when five people attacked him to take his jacket and order him to empty his pockets.”

The attackers allegedly subjected the boy to violence during the robbery. “He added that he was tripped, punched in the face, and had a knife held to his throat before his AirPods were stolen,” the prosecutor said.

The victim told investigators that antisemitic remarks were made throughout the attack.

At the time of the incident, the boy was on a video call. The person on the other end of the call was able to help identify one of the suspects, leading to an arrest of an 18-year-old suspect who remains in custody. The investigation is being conducted on suspicion of armed robbery and armed violence committed in a group and aggravated by discrimination, according to the prosecutor’s office. Four other alleged attackers have not yet been apprehended.

The assault prompted a response from Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions.

“How do you find the words to explain to a 13-year-old child that he is being attacked because he is Jewish? Who will be able tomorrow to restore his confidence in the future?” Arfi wrote on X. “Hatred of Jews is never acceptable, but it is even less so when it targets children,” he added.

The incident comes in the midst of a broader surge in antisemitic acts in France. According to figures cited in recent reporting, antisemitic incidents have tripled since October 2023, alongside an increase in physical attacks against Jews and individuals wearing visible religious symbols, particularly in the Paris area.

Police said efforts are continuing to locate and arrest the remaining suspects. The investigation remains ongoing.