Prague community on alert after repeated anti-Semitic attacks on Jewish shop

An unknown man vandalized a Jewish store in Prague 2’s Vinohrady district early Monday with anti-Semitic graffiti, marking the third attack on the shop this summer and prompting a police investigation into potential hate crimes. The incident has heightened safety concerns in the area.

Police advise residents to stay vigilant, particularly in high-traffic areas and around sites associated with minority communities. The incident has sparked debate over broader anti-Semitic trends in Prague and the importance of public awareness and reporting to prevent escalation.

The slogans “Fascists” and “Holocaust 2025” were spray-painted on the Jewish E-shop's doors, windows, and walls. Store owner David Fábry said the attack occurred at 5:43 a.m. Monday, following two earlier incidents involving graffiti and individuals spitting on the entrance. The store sells kosher food, Jewish literature, religious items, and small souvenirs.

A rabbi in Prague, David Maxa, compared the incident to the early stages of persecution in the 1930s and warned of the dangers of unchecked hatred. “It's a warning to us all. Anti-Semitism is not just an attack on Jews. It's a poison that is destroying the whole of society. And it's in the hands of all of us how we deal with it,” he said on X.

Similar attacks in the city have included public harassment (especially rising rates of hate speech according to the Federation of Jewish Communities in Czechia), signaling a growing trend of hate-motivated crimes. Prague police are investigating and looking for the perpetrator; he faces five years in prison if caught.

Authorities have urged anyone witnessing suspicious activity in the area to contact the police, while community organizations are coordinating additional protective measures.

Fábry also added that he greatly appreciates the Czech public's support for the case. "People are offering to pay for the damage, we really appreciate it.”

A report from 2024 found that anti-Semitic incidents in the Czech Republic nearly doubled from the previous year, rising about 90 percent to 4,328. The increase is primarily linked to a surge in online hate speech amid the Israel-Palestine war, especially on social media.