Paris Investigates Antisemitic Vandalism at Holocaust Memorial, Synagogues

Several Jewish sites in Paris, including the Holocaust Memorial, two synagogues, and a Jewish restaurant, were vandalized with green paint in an incident discovered early Saturday morning. Authorities found an open can of green paint nearby and surveillance footage showed an individual dressed in black spraying paint. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the acts as "heinous" and expressed "immense disgust," emphasizing that antisemitic acts constitute over 60% of religiously motivated offenses in France, making the Jewish community particularly vulnerable. The vandalism comes ahead of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, prompting heightened security measures around Jewish sites amid ongoing international tensions, especially related to the Middle East. France has seen an increase in physical assaults motivated by antisemitism despite a slight overall decrease in antisemitic incidents in 2024, fueling concerns within the large French Jewish community. No suspects have been arrested, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.