Jewish Group in Barcelona Faces Antisemitic Attack and Chase by Crowd

The Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain announced on Monday that it is considering legal action following a severe antisemitic harassment incident in Barcelona. The event occurred late Friday night when a group of Jewish citizens from France left a synagogue after prayers and a Sabbath meal. Two members of the group, identifiable by their kippahs, one dressed in Hasidic attire, were subjected to hostile stares, slurs, and a chase lasting about an hour and a half as they made their way to a hotel.

According to eyewitness accounts, a woman wearing shorts, a sports bra, a Palestinian keffiyeh, and covered in tattoos aggressively pursued the group, shouting antisemitic insults and spitting at them repeatedly. Subsequently, dozens of others joined her, some on bicycles, scooters, and motorcycles, chanting phrases such as "Jews are not welcome in Barcelona," "baby killers," and "Israeli genocide," blocking the group’s free movement. The victims feared physical assault for over half an hour until they reached the Arts Hotel, where security prevented the crowd from entering.

The Federation and the Barcelona Jewish community are gathering information and considering filing complaints with authorities. They have called on witnesses or anyone with video footage from the promenade, Olympic port area, or near the Sofitel and Arts hotels on the night of the incident to come forward.

This attack is part of a series of antisemitic incidents in recent months, including desecration of the Jewish cemetery in Montjuïc, graffiti, vandalism, threatening demonstrations, and threats against community members. The Federation emphasized that antisemitism is a threat to democracy as a whole and urged Spanish authorities to take decisive action to end what it described as official indifference to the phenomenon.