Battle of Chustenahlah

The Zürich stabbing attack was a terrorist attack by a 15-year old in Zürich against an Orthodox Jew.^[1] The teen later said that he was doing the attack on behalf of Al-Aqsa, alluding to Jihadist concepts.^[2]

Background

Antisemitic attacks have increased exponentially after the Hamas-led invasion of Israel on 7 October 2023.^[3] The day before in Paris, France a Jewish man was assaulted after leaving a synagogue in the 20th district, and was called a "dirty Jew", which follow a trend of increasing antisemitic events with an increase in reported incidents in 2023 by 235% compared to 2022.^[4] The French speaking Swiss Office against Anti-Semitism and Defamation (CICAD) had reported before the attack, that antisemitic incidents in French-speaking Switzerland had risen by 68% in 2023, with over half reported after the 7 October attack.^[5]

Attack

Police reported that on the evening of 2 March 2024 at around 9:35pm they had received reports of an argument involving multiple people.^[1] Reportedly a 15-year old Swiss teenager attacked an 50-year old Orthodox Jewish man with a stabbing weapon and critically injured him, while reportedly repeatedly yelling "Death to all Jews", along with other antisemitic statements before and during the attack.^[5][6] Rabbi Chaim Drukman, a Shaliah at the Jewish community in Lucerne, stated that the Orthodox man had left his home, and was stabbed.^[7] The perpetrator was arrested by police and brought in for questioning shortly after the attack.^[4]

Investigation

At first police told reporters that the attack and events leading up to it were being examined from multiple different angles including viewing the attack as an antisemitic crime. They also requested that all witnesses to the attack come forward to provide statements.^[4] The perpetrator was later announced to have been involved in a video expressing support with the Islamic State (ISIS) and claimed to be a soldier for the organization, although police were working on finding if the teenager acted alone or as part of a group. In another video the perpetrator reportedly calls for a "battle against the Jews" and speaks in Arabic.^[8]

Aftermath

After consulting multiple Jewish groups the police released a statement after the attack stating that they would increase security around certain areas, that were connected to Jewish history or groups, as a precaution.^[1]

The President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd issued a statement on Twitter, expressing her shock over the attack and stated that "antisemitism has no place in Switzerland".^[9] The head of the Jewish community in Switzerland; Jonathan Kreutner, condemned the attack and highlighted the increase in reported antisemitism after the 7 October attacks.^[4] A condemnation of the attack and the perpetrators actions was issued along with reports of solidarity to the Jewish community on behalf of the Muslim communities and institutions in Switzerland.^[7] The Zürich based Foundation Against Racism and Antisemitism also condemned the incident and called it one of many incidents, highlighting the rise of antisemitism after the 7 October attacks.^[9]

References