Austrian Turkish man allegedly assaults 3 Jews in Vienna

Police are looking into the possibility that it was a hate crime, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz noted in a tweet thanking them for arresting the suspect.

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(JTA) — An Austrian man of Turkish descent allegedly assaulted three Jewish men in a part of Vienna where many Jews live and work.

The incident occurred shortly before noon Thursday on Tabor Street in front of a kosher restaurant.

Police are looking into the possibility that the attack was anti-Semitic, the Oe24 news site reported.

The perpetrator, a 24-year-old unemployed Austrian with Turkish roots, was identified only as Burkay S. He allegedly attacked the men in front of a Jewish restaurant. All three wore a kippah, and one had Hebrew inscriptions on his clothes.

The suspect was arrested at a nearby subway station. None of the victims suffered serious injuries.

Before assaulting the Jewish men, he also hit a woman on the street.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Twitter that “a possible antisemitic background is currently being examined by the competent authorities.” He thanked police for apprehending the suspect.

Austria had more than 500 anti-Semitic incidents in 2017, nearly double the total from three years earlier.

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