A Hasidic Jew was attacked by neo-Nazis while walking to synagogue in Vienna on Saturday, with the assailants stealing his kippah and shtreimel before fleeing. An anti-fascist left-wing organization later published photos of the suspects, who allegedly belong to an antisemitic right-wing group.
Notably, a shtreimel costs between $500 - $12,000, so it's not exactly a small loss.
The incident occurred during a demonstration in support of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which won the general elections on September 29. According to Bini Guttman, a Vienna resident from the World Jewish Congress, the Hasidic man was attacked by several protesters who stole his shtreimel. The police later apprehended the attackers.
The perpetrators are believed to be members of the neo-Nazi hooligan group "Vienna Dance Brigade." An anti-fascist organization shared photos of the suspects, warning people earlier that day to avoid the area due to the "fascist rally" at Heldenplatz, noting that such demonstrations had previously attracted neo-Nazi elements.
Local media reported that the demonstration saw physical confrontations with police, with knives and pepper spray being confiscated from neo-Nazi participants. Vienna police confirmed these reports, including the antisemitic attack that occurred on the demonstration's periphery.
Behadrei Haredim contributed to this article.
