An Irish national is facing up to five years in prison in France after being arrested for allegedly telling a Jewish woman that he would "put a bullet" in her head and making anti-Semitic comments. The man, who is in his 60s and cannot be named for legal reasons, is also accused of referencing Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust.
The incident occurred earlier this month at a hypermarket in Le Pontet, on the outskirts of Avignon. The man was taken into custody in the Marseille area on Wednesday after being identified in a video of the confrontation, which was circulated globally by the alleged victims, identified as two Australian tourists.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the arrest on X (formerly Twitter), commending the gendarmes for their investigation. "Antisemitism must be fought firmly and relentlessly," Nunez stated.
A French government spokesperson described the encounter as a "violent confrontation" in a supermarket where the Irish national "allegedly made serious antisemitic remarks before issuing death threats." Judicial police in Marseille are handling the investigation.
In the circulated footage, the suspect is referred to as "Paddy." While the man saying specific anti-Semitic remarks is not filmed, he is heard saying, "You get the f*** away, before I put a f***ing bullet in your head." A woman in the video accuses him of saying, "I'm sorry Hitler didn't finish the job."
Public expressions of anti-Semitic hatred are punishable in France by up to five years in prison and fines of up to €45,000 (£38,000).
Jewish groups in France have reported an increase in anti-Semitism, with violent incidents often linked to the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. France's anti-discrimination minister, Aurore Bergé, stated that "France will never compromise with antisemitism and hatred," emphasizing the country's mobilization, particularly since October 7, 2023.
Serge Papin, the tourism minister, affirmed France as a welcoming land for all visitors, regardless of nationality or religion, and stressed that "No tourist should be targeted, threatened, or discriminated against because of who they are or what they believe."
The arrested man has been remanded in custody pending potential charges. If charged, he is likely to face trial later this year. There was no immediate comment from the man or his legal counsel.