On the night of January 31, the Beth Loubavitch – Beth’Hannah Jewish primary school in Paris’ 20th arrondissement was the target of a violent act of vandalism. According to police sources and the Paris Prosecutor’s Office, several individuals attacked the school’s exterior around 9 PM.
Details of the Attack
Three windows were smashed and a security camera was torn off. Most concerning, a religious plaque identifying the institution as a Jewish school was found discarded in a nearby square.
Authorities confirmed that the vandals did not attempt to break into the school or steal anything, suggesting the act was not a burglary but a targeted antisemitic attack.
Investigation Underway
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation for aggravated property damage with two aggravating factors: the act was committed by a group and motivated by religion. The case is being handled by the local police investigation unit (SAIP) of the 20th arrondissement.
Antisemitism in Context
This attack comes amid a worrying rise in antisemitic incidents in France. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 1,570 antisemitic acts were recorded in 2024. In just the first eight months of 2025, 889 incidents had already been documented.
