A man in his 60s, whose identity is being withheld for legal reasons, has been arrested in southern France in connection with an incident that occurred earlier this month at a hypermarket in Le Pontet, near Avignon. The arrest followed the circulation of a video that allegedly captured the man making anti-Semitic comments and threatening Jewish tourists. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the arrest on X (formerly Twitter), commending the gendarmes for their investigation into the antisemitic threats and remarks.
The video reportedly involves two Australian tourists. In the footage, a woman accuses the suspect of saying, "I'm sorry Hitler didn't finish the job." While the man making the statement is not seen on camera, he is audibly heard saying, "You get the f*** away, before I put a f***ing bullet in your head." Public expressions of anti-Semitic hatred in France can carry penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of €45,000.
A French government spokesman described the incident as a "violent confrontation" where an "Irish national" allegedly made "serious antisemitic remarks before issuing death threats." The investigation is being conducted by judicial police in Marseille. The arrested man is in custody pending potential charges or release. If charged, he is likely to face trial later this year.
Jewish groups in France have expressed concerns about a rise in anti-Semitism, with some linking violent incidents to the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Following the supermarket video's publication, France's anti-discrimination minister, Aurore Bergé, stated that "France will never compromise with antisemitism and hatred." She emphasized the nation's mobilization, particularly since October 7, 2023, to ensure no one suffers hatred based on their identity. Tourism Minister Serge Papin also affirmed France as a welcoming country, asserting that no tourist should be targeted or discriminated against.
There has been no immediate comment from the arrested man or his legal counsel.