A late-night attack on Strada Nuova, one of Venice’s busiest streets near the Rialto Bridge, has rattled the city’s Jewish community and drawn sharp condemnation from officials after a group of Muslim migrants from North Africa assaulted three Jewish tourists.

The victims — a Jewish couple from the United States and an Israeli — were singled out because of their ultra-Orthodox appearance, according to police. Witnesses said around ten men surrounded the group, shouting “Free Palestine” before launching the attack.

One of the assailants allegedly unleashed a Rottweiler on the tourists, while another slapped one of them. At the same time, a glass bottle was thrown and shattered on the ground, cutting the American woman’s ankle. Police officers who witnessed the assault intervened quickly, preventing further violence.

Authorities arrested a 31-year-old Tunisian man accused of slapping one of the victims. He has been charged with assault and barred from entering Venice for the next two years. Two others, both in Italy illegally, were detained pending deportation proceedings.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro denounced the violence as “a serious and unacceptable act.” The city’s Jewish community issued a blistering statement, describing the assault as “cowardly and vile” and warning that such incidents threaten Venice’s long reputation for tolerance. “This is a despicable act. Such incidents undermine Venice’s tradition of hospitality,” the statement read.

The attack is the second in just over a month near the Rialto Bridge. In August, an ultra-Orthodox American couple was spat on, insulted, and threatened with a dog in a similar assault.

Venice has also seen other disturbing antisemitic episodes this year: chants were heard during a speech by the president of the city’s Jewish community, and a university professor was physically attacked after refusing to publicly denounce Israel.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)