Rabbin Assaulted with Chair in Neuilly-sur-Seine: Elie Lemmel recounts the incident, saying, "Initially, I believed a fallen chimney had struck my head."
Chaotic Clash in Neuilly-sur-Seine:
A shuddering scene unfolded in a swanky restaurant in Neuilly-sur-Seine on a blustery June afternoon. Rabbi Elie Lemmel, a prominent figure in the Jewish community, was brutally assaulted while unwinding over lunch with friends.
In a grim twist, the incriminated perpetrator - a 28-year-old man from Gaza Strip, residing in Germany - had been slipping through the French authorities' grasp. The assailant, with a disturbing past, had already unleashed a vicious attack on the rabbi earlier in the week during a visit to Deauville, leaving Rabbi Lemmel dazed and on edge.
A Wicked Whack with a Chair:
Within seconds, the peaceful luncheon turned into a heart-wrenching ordeal. Witnesses claim they saw the insidious attacker lunging towards Rabbi Lemmel with a chair, aiming a forceful blow to the head. Thankfully, the rabbi was only left with a visible injury. The ferocious assailant made a swift getaway, only to be apprehended moments later by courageous bystanders.
The Response Echoes:
The Jewish community was shaken by the escalating offensive. The distressing incident set off a wave of condemnation from both officials and influential leaders, warning that the toxic poison of religious prejudice continues to threaten the social order. With antisemitic attacks on the rise, the community remains emotionally vulnerable and on high alert.
[1] Le Monde[2] Le Figaro[3] France 24[4] BBC[5] Haaretz (Hebrew)
Police launched an intense investigation into the attack on Rabbi Elie Lemmel, with crime-and-justice sections of several news outlets, including Le Monde, Le Figaro, France 24, BBC, and Haaretz, providing extensive coverage.
Owing to the assailant's past involvement in war-and-conflicts and politics, the incident raises concerns about potential extremist links, prompting discussions about the ongoing threat of war-and-conflicts spilling into general-news contexts in modern democracies.
