Kosher Paris Restaurant Kokoriko Hit with Acid Vandalism
Acid attack vandalizes Paris kosher restaurant Kokoriko for the third time amid rising antisemitism. Damage forces closure; investigation underway as Jewish leaders decry echoes of 1940s persecutions.
In a shocking act of vandalism, the kosher restaurant Kokoriko in Paris's 17th arrondissement was sprayed with acid overnight last Thursday, leaving the establishment extensively damaged and forcing its temporary closure.
Employees arrived Friday morning to discover the door forced open and both the ground and first floors covered in corrosive acid, ruining tables, walls, floors, and equipment.
This marks the third attack on the popular kosher eatery located on Avenue des Ternes in recent weeks, including a prior acid incident and an earlier vandalism involving glue poured into locks.
The owner, who has not been publicly named for safety reasons, plans to file a police complaint for the third time this week, highlighting the escalating targeting of Jewish-owned businesses in France.
The Paris prosecutor's office has launched an investigation, classifying the attack as an antisemitic hate crime.
Jewish community leaders have expressed outrage, drawing parallels to historical persecutions. "The last time Jewish-owned businesses in France were targeted and forced to close like this was in the 1940s," said a spokesperson for the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF), underscoring fears of rising antisemitism amid ongoing global tensions.
This incident follows a similar acid attack on another kosher restaurant, KAO, just months ago, fueling concerns over a pattern of targeted violence against Jewish sites in the French capital.
French authorities, including Mayor Anne Hidalgo, have condemned the acts and pledged increased security for Jewish institutions.
No suspects have been identified yet, but surveillance footage from nearby cameras is being reviewed.
The vandalism has sparked widespread condemnation on social media and from international Jewish organizations, with calls for stronger measures to combat antisemitism in Europe.