Spanish police have opened an investigation after vandals desecrated a number of Jewish graves in a Barcelona cemetery over the weekend.� Catalan police confirmed the incident at the Jewish section of Les Corts cemetery, though authorities did not specify how many graves were damaged.
�We are aware of the incident and have opened an investigation,� a Catalan police spokesperson said.
Spain�s Federation of Jewish Communities (FCJE) said that more than 20 graves were desecrated, calling the act a serious antisemitic incident and urging authorities to respond forcefully.
In a statement, the FCJE condemned what the incident as a �despicable antisemitic act� and called on Spanish authorities to �show the utmost resolve in confronting antisemitism.�
The FCJE said the vandalism appears to be connected to an online map circulated by pro-Palestinian activists that identified Jewish- or Israeli-linked sites and businesses in Barcelona. The map has since been removed from the internet.
�With these events, the level of antisemitism takes an alarming leap, moving from words to actions, from incitement to direct attack,� the federation said.
Jewish groups have warned in recent months that online targeting of Jewish sites can translate into real-world violence or vandalism, raising concerns about the safety of Jewish communities across Europe.
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni condemned the incident in a statement on social media, calling it unacceptable and pledging full cooperation with law enforcement.
�The authorities are working to identify those responsible,� Collboni said.
The incident comes amid heightened concerns across Europe over antisemitic incidents, which have risen sharply in several countries in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre.
Spanish officials have not announced any arrests, and police said the investigation is ongoing.
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And the materialistic heimisha run for Pesach programs in Spain. They can�t sit still and makes a seder at home. They have to squander hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreign third world countries otherwise they can�t eat their non gebrokts matzohs in style.