Rabbi Assaulted in Milan

A 60-year-old rabbi was attacked and verbally abused by three young men, reportedly of Arab descent, while he was waiting for a bus near the Jewish quarter in Milan, Italy. This incident happened on a Wednesday evening, and local media outlets reported that the assailants identified the rabbi by his clothing.

During the attack, the group kicked and punched him, removed his hat, and then proceeded to stomp on it and spit on it. Remarkably, the rabbi managed to capture both photos and video of the attackers as they fled towards the nearby Bande Nere subway station.

After the assault, he promptly reported the incident to the police and was then taken to a hospital for treatment.

Italian authorities have identified the suspects as young men aged between 19 and 22, of North African origin, each with prior criminal records. They reportedly live in the Milan area but travel frequently into the city to engage in criminal activities.

As of Thursday morning, officials from Italy’s General Investigations and Special Operations Division (Digos) have arrested a 20-year-old Tunisian man, believed to be the main attacker. This individual was described as the one who carried out the assault. The other two suspects are reported to be a 19-year-old of Tunisian descent and a 22-year-old of Moroccan descent. According to reports, Milan’s local government plans to issue expulsion orders against all three individuals.

Walker Meghnagi, the president of the Milan Jewish Community, expressed deep shame over the attack to the news service ANSA, stating, “I feel ashamed of my country for what has happened; we have never seen anything this violent.”

Meghnagi highlighted the brutality of the assault, recounting how the attackers kicked, punched, and verbally assaulted the rabbi. He described the assailants as being of Arab background.

In the hours following the attack, several Italian government officials condemned the violent antisemitic act. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her support for the rabbi and the Jewish community in Milan, stating that such acts of hatred are intolerable and must be fought with determination.

Meloni characterized the assault as a “cowardly and unacceptable act,” emphasizing her strong condemnation of anti-Semitic sentiments.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini took to social media to call the incident “Very serious. Terrible. Unacceptable.” He noted that these acts of antisemitism, which many had hoped were relegated to the past, are tragically resurfacing in contemporary society.

Salvini also pointed out a rising climate of antisemitism that has often been underestimated or even justified by certain political factions, adding, “We cannot and must not get used to all this.”