Villeurbanne – a 21-year-old student was assaulted last Thursday. The mayor, Jean-Paul Bret, has condemned the act but believes there is no rise in antisemitic attacks in Villeurbanne.
A young man was assaulted in Villeurbanne on account of his being Jewish. The incident occurred last Thursday at 22:00. Jerome (21) goes out of the “Beit Menakhem” school, where he takes part in evening classes, and returns home via the Leon Jouhaux high school and Charles Montaland Street. The student does not wear any conspicuous religious symbols, but two people approach him and want to know his first name. There are some nervous verbal exchanges and finally he breaks down; yes, he is Jewish. They insult him, beat him and one of them brandishes a plastic gun. He shoots four times. The injuries are superficial “It is a toy, but when used at a short range it hurts” says a policeman.
The youngster suffers slight injuries to his face, chest and arm. The family doctor issued him permission for 10 days of sick leave, but Jerome was examined on Monday by a pathologist. It looks like the investigators have a lead. “We have something” one of them tells. In addition to the composite sketch of the attackers, the police have been gathering proofs. The family, who are modest people, does not want to talk too much about the attack.
