Jewish visitors to Spain chased by antisemitic mob for 90 minutes

Two visibly Jewish tourists were chased through Barcelona after attending Friday night synagogue services.

By World Israel News Staff

Two Jewish men visiting Barcelona, Spain, were chased through city streets by an angry crowd that shouted antisemitic insults and accusations, according to the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE).

The two men, both French nationals, were wearing kippot (skullcaps), making them readily identifiable as Jewish. According to media reports, one of the men was also dressed in traditional Hasidic attire.

The incident occurred last Friday evening as the pair walked back to their hotel after attending Shabbat services at a local synagogue.

In a statement, the FCJE said the confrontation began when a heavily tattooed woman wearing a keffiyeh and a sports bra allegedly began shouting abuse at the two men without provocation.

According to the organization, the situation quickly escalated as other bystanders joined in.

The FCJE said “dozens” of people began following the pair through the streets of Barcelona, turning what started as a verbal confrontation into a prolonged ordeal.

According to the statement, members of the crowd shouted insults, including “Jews are not wanted in Barcelona,” “baby murderers,” and “Israeli genocide.”

The organization also alleged that the woman who initiated the confrontation spat at the two visitors during the incident.

The two men reportedly spent approximately 90 minutes attempting to return safely to their hotel while the crowd repeatedly blocked their path and continued shouting abuse.

Upon arriving at the hotel, security personnel prevented members of the crowd from entering the premises.

The FCJE said the episode reflects a broad increase in antisemitic incidents affecting Spain’s Jewish community.

“This episode adds to an escalation of antisemitic incidents that have been reported for months: the desecration of the Jewish cemetery in Montjuïc, graffiti and acts of vandalism, intimidating gatherings and threats against members of the community,” the organization said.

The FCJE urged Spanish authorities to take stronger action against antisemitic incidents, warning that such attacks threaten society as a whole rather than only Spain’s Jewish population.

The organization called upon Spanish authorities “to abandon any passivity in the face of this trend because antisemitism is not a problem of the Jewish community. It is a problem for all of democracy.”