Rioters target Synagogues, Jewish stores in France

By Dustin M Braden - 22 Jul '14 10:37AM

Although France has banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations throughout the country, they still occur, and sometimes with clearly anti-Semitic motivations.

The Independent reports that on the second day of the ban, gangs of pro-Palestinian youth clashed with riot police throughout the country. Rather than just venting their frustration with the French authorities for limiting their rights to expression, the protests then targeted Jewish business and places of worship.

Most of the violence has centered around the town of Sarcelles, according to The Independent. Thirty people were arrested and 18 police officers injured in the clashes.

Three shops were burned and looted, including a Kosher grocery. The fiercest violence involving the police occurred as they protected two synagogues that the rioters had targeted for vandalism and destruction.

Images on social media from Sarcelles showed large police deployments and some of the damage done by the rioters.

#Sarcelles sarcelles #now pic.twitter.com/Qupz8ULNmx

— Pierre Schydlowski (@PSchydlowski) July 20, 2014

#Sarcelles pic.twitter.com/bkGnuq3fn4 — Dominique Albertini (@dom_albertini) July 20, 2014

#France Sarcelles, a Paris suburb, clashes erupted between pro-Palestinian protesters and police pic.twitter.com/AHgZbFtFrf

— IslamicCaliphateNews (@ISCaliphateNews) July 20, 2014