"Dirty Jew," Brutal Villeurbanne attack amid surge in Antisemitism in France

A Jewish man was violently assaulted in Villeurbanne, a suburb of Lyon, France, on Friday in what authorities and local leaders are calling a blatant antisemitic attack, the third such incident in the area in just over a month. The victim, who was wearing a Star of David necklace, was reportedly approached by two men. One of the attackers filmed the incident while the other struck the man on the head, shouting slurs including “dirty Jew” and “dirty fascist,” according to Le Progrès.

The attack drew swift condemnation from public officials and raised alarm about the growing wave of antisemitic violence sweeping across France. The prefecture of the Auvergne Rhône Alpes district confirmed that France’s National Police have launched an investigation, with Prefect Fabienne Buccio pledging justice: “I am determined to fight antisemitic incidents and will not let the perpetrators go unpunished,” she stated.

Villeurbanne Mayor Cédric Van Styvendael also condemned the attack in a Facebook post on Saturday, vowing to fight “all forms of violence” and promising that the perpetrators would be identified and prosecuted. “Impunity is not an option,” he added.

National Assembly member Gabriel Amard of La France Insoumise denounced the attack as well, calling for unity and legal action. “Hate has no place in our city,” Amard wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Former Villeurbanne mayor Jean-Paul Bret took the matter further, demanding a special city council meeting and a public awareness campaign on antisemitism in public transportation systems.

This latest assault is part of a disturbing trend. On March 17, a 46-year-old woman en route to a Hebrew class was verbally and physically attacked by a veiled woman who called her a “dirty Jew,” pushed her against a wall, spat on her, and threatened to slit her throat if she was seen again. Just days earlier, on March 8, another Jewish man was violently attacked in the city, suffering multiple bone fractures.

French Equality Minister Aurore Bergé highlighted the Friday assault as part of a larger, national issue. She also pointed to Saturday’s tensions in Strasbourg, where a group of anti-Israel activists clashed with pedestrians near a Jewish-owned bakery. Though the Dreher bakery itself was not attacked, a video showed Palestinian-flag-waving demonstrators surrounding the area while police stood guard. Organizers of the protest claimed the actual target was a pro-Israel counter-demonstrator.

Bergé denounced the incident on X, emphasizing that anti-Zionism is increasingly serving as a veil for traditional antisemitic hatred—one that has fueled tragic violence in France over the years. Others echoed her concerns. Senator Valérie Boyer of the Republicans party declared that “France has fallen so low” that Jewish businesses are being intimidated. “The list of antisemitic atrocities displaying the Palestinian flag is far too long,” she warned. “It is urgent and vital that this stops – and quickly.”

National Rally MEP Virginie Joron also criticized the local response, accusing Strasbourg authorities of allowing the city center to be “taken hostage” every Saturday by anti-Israel demonstrators, while doing little to protect shopkeepers and the public.

As antisemitism in France reaches alarming levels, many Jewish communities are left feeling vulnerable and increasingly abandoned. The calls for urgent action—from justice for victims to stronger protections and national awareness—are growing louder with each new attack.