Lyon saw a spate of antisemitic incidents in recent weeks, with a young teenage Jewish boy assaulted outside a synagogue last Friday and a Holocaust memorial and World War II memorial vandalized with graffiti on Sunday.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Prefect Fabienne Buccio confirmed on social media on Monday that police had opened an investigation into the assault on the teenager.
Le Progres reported that the 14-year-old had been leaving the Lyon synagogue when he was approached by a man. The alleged attacker began to insult the boy with antisemitic remarks before beating him. The Jewish teenager managed to flee, but reportedly suffered bruising and walked with a limp.
Buccio assured that the Jewish community had her support.
"Antisemitism is a poison that has no place in our Republic," Buccio said on X. "State services combat it with determination at every moment and throughout our territory."
Lyon Deputy Mayor Mohamed Chihi said on Bluesky on Monday that anyone who attacks a child because they are Jewish is a coward.
A Holocaust memorial commemorating those sent by train to Nazi death camps was vandalized with graffiti on Sunday, according to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Chief Rabbi Daniel Dahan and Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF) president Yonathan Arfi.
"Free Gaza," was reportedly scrawled across the Holocaust memorial.
Arfi said that defiling the memory of Holocaust victims was a means to demonize the Jews and attack the values and history of France.
Many Jewish people in France do not feel safe
"Hatred of Israel is both the fuel for hatred of the Jews and for that of the Republic," Arfi said on x.
Lyon Mayor Gregory Doucet promised that the perpetrator would be sought and prosecuted.
"Lyon remains steadfast in the face of hatred, antisemitism, and racism," Doucet said on Facebook. "Nothing can undermine our determination to pass on our memories and defend the values of peace, justice, and fraternity."
Buccio noted on X that the memorial had only just been inaugurated this year, and condemned its defacement.
Dahan also related to The Jerusalem Post that a World War Two memorial had also been vandalized with graffiti that read "death to the Jews."
Last week, a Jewish community member in the area was harassed by people of Arabic descent. Dahan said that she had been told "you are not welcome here, Jew."
"A lot of people plan to make Aliyah because they don't feel safe in Europe," said Dahan. "All over Europe we hear about incidents."