Orthodox Jewish man stabbed in Switzerland, police probe antisemitic attack
The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities said the Jewish community's security arrangements were being reviewed after the attack.
An Orthodox Jewish man was stabbed in a suspected antisemitic hate crime in the Selnau area of Zurich, Switzerland, shortly after Shabbat ended on Saturday evening, according to the Zurich canton police.
A 15-year-old Swiss assailant stabbed a 50-year-old Orthodox Jew, critically wounding him. City Councilor Jehuda Spielman, who knows the victim, told The Jerusalem Post that bystanders rushed in to restrain the attacker, and that “without a doubt, they saved his life.”
“We were really lucky that people fought back,” said Spielman, who said that he doubted the victim would have survived from the multiple stab wounds. He praised the citizens of Zurich who intervened.Spielman said that the attacker was shouting antisemitic slogans while he was stabbing and as he was pinned down. In addition to acting cavalier about the incident, Spielman said the assailant had alluded to jihadist concepts, such as acting on behalf of “Al-Aqsa.”
Jewish community reviewing security arrangements
Jewish organizations said that the assailant yelled “death to the Jews” during the attack. Police are calling on witnesses to come forward. Police had come to the scene after initial reports that there was an argument between several people. The police said that they have opened an investigation and have included the possibility that the incident was an antisemitic crime.
“It’s no doubt that it’s an antisemitic attack,” said Spielman.
Spielman said that the incident wasn’t planned but spontaneous, and even in Israel, such actions are difficult to counter. The councilman said that law enforcement is very supportive and is doing what they can, not just with the Saturday incident but also since the October 7 massacre.The Zurich police said on Sunday that after consultation with local Jewish organizations, they had increased security at Jewish sites.
The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG) stated that the Jewish community’s security arrangements were being reviewed after the attack, though “It is assumed that no further threat to Jewish people and institutions is expected at the moment. Nevertheless, all members of the Jewish community are called upon to behave cautiously and prudently until further notice.”“The SIG is deeply shocked that a community member fell victim to such an attack. Physical attacks on Jewish people in Switzerland are very rare. The Jewish community has been spared from such life-threatening attacks for the past two decades. However, there has been a significant increase in such physical attacks since October 7,” added the federation. “The SIG’s thoughts are with the victim and his relatives. We pray for a full and speedy recovery.”
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