Jewish School in Paris Vandalized
Paris Jewish school vandalized Saturday as attackers smashed windows, dismantled camera, removed identifying plaque. No suspects arrested in ongoing probe.
A Chabad-affiliated Jewish primary school in Paris's 20th arrondissement was vandalized on Saturday evening, February 1, in what authorities are investigating as "serious property damage," the Paris public prosecutor's office announced Sunday.
The incident occurred at the Beth Loubavitch, Beth’Hannah school, also known as Beit Chana, where attackers smashed three windows, dismantled a security camera, and removed the school's identifying plaque, which was later discovered discarded in a nearby park. The perpetrators did not breach the building's interior, and no injuries were reported.
While the motive has not been officially determined, the attack unfolds against a backdrop of surging antisemitic incidents in France since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023. Jewish community leaders and advocacy organizations have decried the vandalism as emblematic of escalating hostility, urging swift action though it has not yet been classified as a hate crime.
No suspects have been apprehended, and the investigation remains ongoing. French officials have emphasized their commitment to protecting religious institutions amid heightened security concerns for Jewish sites across the country.