A popular kosher pizzeria in central Madrid was targeted in an arson attack late Tuesday night while filled with customers. Thanks to the swift response of the restaurant staff, the fire was quickly extinguished, and no injuries were reported.
According to the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain and the Jewish Community of Madrid, the attack occurred at 10:39 p.m. at Rimon Pizzería, located at 37 Viriato Street, near a synagogue. A suspect entered the restaurant, doused the entrance with a flammable liquid that smelled strongly of gasoline, ignited a fire, and fled the scene. The restaurant’s staff immediately intervened to prevent the flames from spreading, while the owners alerted the police, who arrived shortly afterward.
The Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain condemned the attack, calling it an “antisemitic act aimed at harming and instilling fear in the Jewish community.” In a statement, the organization described the incident as “a despicable and savage act, motivated by hatred, that threatens the coexistence, freedom, and tolerance that have long defined Madrid.”
Rising Attacks on Jewish Establishments
Jewish-owned restaurants have increasingly become targets of hate crimes since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. In Brooklyn, New York, the kosher Miriam Restaurant was vandalized in recent weeks. Similarly, in November 2023, around 900 chefs and restaurateurs in North America signed a petition calling for a boycott of Israeli restaurants and cuisine in protest of Israeli military actions in Gaza.
Tensions escalated further when pro-Palestinian demonstrators attacked an Israeli restaurant in Chelsea, New York City, overturning tables, defacing an Israeli flag with a red triangle—a symbol associated with Hamas propaganda—and issuing threats to staff members.
Spanish authorities have yet to identify or apprehend the suspect responsible for the Madrid attack, and the investigation is ongoing.
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