Paris Holocaust Memorial, Synagogues Vandalized with Paint Amid Rising Anti-Semitism

Several sites associated with the Jewish community in central Paris, including France's Holocaust memorial, two synagogues—Agoudas Hakehilos and Tournelles—and the kosher restaurant 'Chez Marianne,' were vandalized with green paint overnight. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the attacks as "heinous acts targeting the Jewish community" and called for strengthened security measures ahead of the Jewish Shavuot holiday, citing ongoing international tensions and the community's vulnerability. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo strongly condemned the acts, stating that anti-Semitism has no place in the city or the Republic, and announced that a formal complaint would be filed. The vandalism is part of a broader pattern of rising anti-Semitic acts in France, which account for more than 60% of anti-religious incidents, exacerbated by tensions linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict since October 2023. No arrests have been made, and no specific motives or claims have been reported, though the incidents have increased anxiety within the French Jewish community. Authorities reviewed surveillance footage showing a suspect dressed in black tagging the memorial early in the morning, and cleanup efforts are underway.