VENICE – Witnesses and local reports said the couple were chased through the streets, surrounded by a group of around 10 to 12 men. The man was slapped, and the woman was injured after being struck by a smashed bottle, authorities and news outlets reported. One assailant also set a large dog on the couple, witnesses said.
Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro condemned the incident, saying the city “is and must continue to be an open, welcoming, and safe city, where mutual respect is the foundation of civil coexistence.” The Jewish Community of Venice described the attack as a “cowardly and despicable act.”
Italian police said they have identified suspects and are investigating. Italian news agency AGI and state prosecutors reported that several suspects were located, with at least three men identified in early inquiries; local prosecutors have opened a formal investigation.
Multiple Jewish organisations and community groups reported the attack and urged swift police action. The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and other groups called for robust protection of Jewish visitors and residents as European cities continue to see spikes in antisemitic incidents since the Gaza war.
Some eyewitness and social media accounts include additional allegations about the attackers’ behaviour. A post by the X account, Jews Fight Back, described disturbing intimidation tactics, including a fake handshake followed by a slap, and the attackers simulating sexual acts to intimidate the couple.
The episode follows earlier incidents in Venice and elsewhere in Italy in recent months in which visibly Jewish tourists and locals were harassed, spat upon, chased, or threatened. Community leaders say the pattern is alarming and demand stronger preventive measures and faster prosecutions.
For Jewish and pro-Israel communities, the attack underscores an immediate safety concern for visibly Jewish travellers and residents in European tourist centres. Leaders urged authorities to ensure thorough investigations and to step up visible policing near synagogues, Jewish institutions, and popular tourist routes.
Anyone with information or footage that could assist investigators was asked to contact local police. Officials said they are reviewing video surveillance and witness accounts as part of their inquiry.
This article is based on verified information from the Associated Press, ANSA, The Times of Israel, Ynet, The Jewish Chronicle, and contemporaneous social media reporting by Jews Fight Back on X.