Israeli Couple Attacked in Vienna Apartment, Reportedly Called 'Zionists'
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
An Israeli couple, Chen and Hadar Barti from Ashkelon, experienced a terrifying incident in Vienna, Austria, when a stranger attacked their Airbnb apartment, shouting anti-Zionist slurs. The couple reported that local police were unhelpful when called, leading them to seek assistance from an online community of Israelis in Vienna. They were safely relocated to a hotel, but the apartment owner refused a refund for the remainder of their stay.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- An Israeli couple was attacked in their Vienna apartment by a stranger shouting anti-Zionist slurs.
- The couple reported that the local police were unhelpful and dismissive when they called for assistance.
- Fellow Israelis living in Vienna came to the couple's aid, escorting them to a hotel.
- The owner of the rented apartment refused to provide a refund for the disrupted vacation.
- The couple, from Ashkelon, described the experience as a frightening 'déjà vu'.
An Israeli couple's vacation in Vienna, Austria, turned frightening when an unknown assailant attacked their rented apartment on Saturday evening. Chen and Hadar Barti, from Ashkelon, were staying in a supposedly safe neighborhood near a synagogue when a stranger began violently banging on their door around 6 p.m. When Chen asked who was there, the attacker reportedly yelled "Zionists, conquering Zionists" and intensified the assault on the door. The couple peered out the window after the man seemed to leave, only to see him waiting outside with unidentified objects. Frightened, they called the local police, but officers who arrived could not locate the suspect and advised them to call again only if he returned. The attacker reappeared shortly after, but the couple's second, urgent call was met with impatience. "The police were angry that we called, they didn't help us," Hadar recounted to Channel 12 News, expressing her distress. Feeling helpless and fearing the attacker would break in, they posted a plea for help in an online group for Israelis living in Vienna. A local Israeli couple responded immediately, came to the apartment, and safely escorted Chen and Hadar to a hotel in the city until they felt calm. Their ordeal continued when Hadar contacted the apartment owner to describe the incident and request a refund for the remaining nights. The owner refused, stating payment had already been processed and a refund was impossible. Despite the financial loss and ruined vacation, the couple is trying to recover at the hotel. "We are residents of Ashkelon, and suddenly we come here and there's a crazy sense of déjà vu," Hadar concluded, adding, "It could have easily ended in disaster."
