Two French boys are accused of raping a 12-year-old Jewish girl in an act of anti-Semitism

PARIS (AP) — Two adolescent boys in a Paris suburb have been provisionally charged with raping a 12-year-old girl and committing religious violence, French authorities said Wednesday, noting that a Jewish leader said the girl was Jewish.

The attack caused widespread shock and concern, particularly after an increase in anti-Semitic acts in France since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.

The girl reported a rape in the town of Courbevoie on Saturday and three boys aged 12 and 13 were arrested, according to the regional prosecutor’s office.

Several preliminary charges were brought against two of the boys on Tuesday, including aggravated gang rape of a minor under 15, religiously motivated violence and public insult, death threats, attempted extortion and unauthorized recording or broadcasting of sexual images.

In accordance with victim protection guidelines, the public prosecutor’s office did not disclose the girl’s religious affiliation or her identity, which is common practice in hate crimes in France.

Later, lawyer and Jewish leader Elie Korchia said in an interview with French broadcaster BFM that the girl was Jewish and that Palestine had been mentioned during the attack. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the girl “was raped because she is Jewish,” and called the incident an anti-Semitic attack.

The two boys will be held in custody pending the outcome of the investigation, prosecutors said. The third boy was named as a witness to the alleged rape and placed in a special education program. Prosecutors said the three boys “expressed regret to the victim without addressing their involvement.”

Political leaders from all camps condemned the attack. France is in the midst of a blitz campaign for early parliamentary elections on June 30 and July 7, and the leading far-right Rassemblement National has sought to make security and immigration central campaign issues.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin described the attack as “horrific” and said the police had only limited ability to prevent such violence. “It is a problem of parents… of authority. It is a problem of society as a whole,” he told BFM television.

On Wednesday evening, hundreds of people gathered outside Paris City Hall to protest against anti-Semitism. Many in the crowd held signs, including some with the slogan “Raped because she is Jewish.”

The Associated Press