Jewish tourists were reportedly attacked in two separate antisemitic incidents in Venice during August and September, prompting police investigations and renewed concern over visitor safety. The assaults targeted American and Israeli visitors near popular tourist sites including the Rialto Bridge and Santa Fosca church.
According to Italian media and community reports, both incidents involved groups of men shouting antisemitic slogans and using dogs to intimidate victims. Venice police confirmed that investigations are underway, including the review of surveillance footage, while local Jewish organizations and advocacy groups have denounced the attacks as part of a wider rise in antisemitic harassment in Italy.
August Assault Near Rialto Bridge
On August 10, a Hasidic Jewish couple from New York reported being harassed near the Rialto Bridge. Local media said three men shouted insults including “dirty Jew,” threw water, spat on the pair, and unleashed a large dog at the husband. The dog bit a mobile phone in his pocket but did not cause serious injury.
The couple took refuge in a kosher restaurant in Venice’s Jewish Ghetto and left the city shortly afterward without filing a police report. Members of the local Jewish community later notified authorities, leading to the opening of an investigation.
September Incident at Santa Fosca
A second case occurred in early September, when an American man and his Israeli wife were reportedly attacked by a group of around 12 men near Santa Fosca church. Italian news agency ANSA reported that the group, described as North African, shouted “Free Palestine,” simulated sexual acts, and threatened the couple with a Rottweiler.
One of the assailants allegedly slapped the man while pretending to shake hands, while the woman sustained an ankle injury from a broken bottle. The couple departed before making an official complaint, but prosecutors may still pursue charges under Italian law.
Community and Political Reactions
Samuele Vialli, a spokesman for Venice’s Radical Party, condemned the incidents, calling them a signal “of retreat to the twentieth century’s most shadowed years” and urging zero tolerance for religiously motivated violence. Jewish advocacy groups in Italy and abroad said the attacks reflect a broader rise in antisemitic incidents linked to geopolitical tensions.
Authorities in Venice continue to seek contact with the tourists involved in both cases to collect testimony. The investigations remain ongoing, and officials have said public prosecutors could proceed even without victim complaints due to the severity of the allegations.
The incidents raise concerns within the tourism sector as Venice, one of Europe’s most visited cities, faces scrutiny over the safety of Jewish travelers. Local leaders have urged stronger protections for visitors and residents against hate-motivated crimes.
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