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Paris murder of woman, 85, investigated as 'anti-Semitic' | Paris murder of woman, 85, investigated as 'anti-Semitic' |
(about 14 hours later) | |
French prosecutors are treating the murder of an 85-year-old Jewish woman, whose body was found in her burned-out Paris flat, as an anti-Semitic attack. | French prosecutors are treating the murder of an 85-year-old Jewish woman, whose body was found in her burned-out Paris flat, as an anti-Semitic attack. |
Mireille Knoll was stabbed several times before Friday's blaze. | |
In 1942, she escaped the notorious Vel d'Hiv round up of some 13,000 Jews in Paris, who were then deported to Nazi death camps. | In 1942, she escaped the notorious Vel d'Hiv round up of some 13,000 Jews in Paris, who were then deported to Nazi death camps. |
Two men, aged 22 and 29, have been arrested and placed under formal investigation over the murder. | |
A police source told French media that one of them had previously been convicted of molesting a 12-year-old girl who had been staying at Mireille Knoll's flat. | A police source told French media that one of them had previously been convicted of molesting a 12-year-old girl who had been staying at Mireille Knoll's flat. |
She had also complained to police that a neighbour had threatened to set fire to her home, according to reports. | She had also complained to police that a neighbour had threatened to set fire to her home, according to reports. |
"We are really in shock. I don't understand how someone could kill a woman who has no money and who lives in a social housing complex," her son, who was not named, told AFP news agency. | "We are really in shock. I don't understand how someone could kill a woman who has no money and who lives in a social housing complex," her son, who was not named, told AFP news agency. |
On Sunday, investigators said they were "not excluding any hypothesis" as to the motive for the attack. | On Sunday, investigators said they were "not excluding any hypothesis" as to the motive for the attack. |
But a day later the Paris prosecutor said it was believed to be anti-Semitic. | But a day later the Paris prosecutor said it was believed to be anti-Semitic. |
French lawmaker Meyer Habib wrote on Facebook that the pensioner had escaped Vel d'Hiv in 1942 thanks to her mother's Brazilian passport. | French lawmaker Meyer Habib wrote on Facebook that the pensioner had escaped Vel d'Hiv in 1942 thanks to her mother's Brazilian passport. |
In a statement (in French), France's Jewish umbrella organisation Crif expressed "anger and concern" at the attack. | In a statement (in French), France's Jewish umbrella organisation Crif expressed "anger and concern" at the attack. |
It urged "the fullest transparency" by the authorities "so that the motive of this barbaric crime is known as quickly as possible". | It urged "the fullest transparency" by the authorities "so that the motive of this barbaric crime is known as quickly as possible". |
France's Jewish community has voiced increasing concern over a rise in violent anti-Semitic acts in the country. | France's Jewish community has voiced increasing concern over a rise in violent anti-Semitic acts in the country. |
Last month, a judge confirmed that the murder last year of Sarah Halimi, a 65-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman who was beaten and thrown out of her window, was driven by anti-Semitism. | Last month, a judge confirmed that the murder last year of Sarah Halimi, a 65-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman who was beaten and thrown out of her window, was driven by anti-Semitism. |
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