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Belgium: Jewish community shocked by anti-Semitic attack

The Jewish community in Antwerp has been struck by another anti-Semitic incident. 

By: World Israel News Staff

A man assaulted an orthodox Jew in Antwerp, Belgium, on Saturday after ripping out several mezuzahs at the entrance to Jewish homes over the past weeks, apparently in the name of “Palestine.”

The Israel Hayom daily reported Monday that security cameras in the area of the attack recorded a man following an ultra-Orthodox man and violently knocking his hat off of his head.

The assailant, believed to be Muslim, was recorded several weeks ago destroying at least 20 mezuzahs and vandalizing the entrances to Jewish institutions in the city, JTA reported.

He also placed a Quran outside a synagogue and yelled at a Jewish passerby that “this is our land, Palestine!” and “we will show you!”

Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

JTA reported that a 24-year-old Muslim refugee was briefly detained by Belgian police for anti-Semitic hate crimes.

The European Jewish Association (EJA) on Facebook wrote: “This is just unbelievable! A young man wrecking Mezuzot and Jewish house doors in Antwerp! It this really happening in Europe 2018?”

These incidents occurred just a week after an assailant appeared to try to run over a Hasidic man and a child on a street in Antwerp. Police arrested the driver who was charged with attempted manslaughter.