An Orthodox Jewish couple from the United States were violently assaulted late on Saturday night near Venice’s busy Rialto Bridge in what authorities are investigating as a possible antisemitic hate crime, reports Israel National News.
According to Italian media, three men approached the couple — a man and his pregnant wife — without warning. The assailants allegedly doused them with water, spat in the man’s face, and unleashed a large dog at him. The animal’s teeth struck a mobile phone in his pocket, preventing what could have been a serious bite to his thigh.
Witnesses reported that the attackers shouted antisemitic insults and issued verbal threats during the assault. The shaken couple escaped to safety inside a well-known kosher restaurant in Venice’s historic Jewish Ghetto. They did not file a formal complaint and have since returned to the United States.
Italian police are reviewing surveillance footage to identify the perpetrators and are seeking to contact the victims for a full statement. Representatives of Venice’s Jewish community immediately alerted authorities, warning that the attack reflects a disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents across Italy.
Under Italian law, prosecutors can pursue hate crime charges without a formal complaint from the victim. Officials confirmed that the investigation will continue, with potential charges including aggravated assault and hate-motivated violence.
Photo Credit: ISTOCK
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