In association with
RTV Utrecht
NOS News•today, 12:27•Amended today, 3:50 PM
The police arrested a 40-year-old man from Utrecht this morning on suspicion of violence against a rabbi last Friday. The man reported himself to the police.
Rabbi Aryeh Leib Heintz filed a report after he said he was attacked at the Overvecht shopping center in Utrecht. According to his wife Bracha Heintz, a man approached the rabbi and asked him what he was “doing there as a Jew.” According to his wife, the rabbi was then hit in the head.
The police made a call yesterday and wanted to speak to “the other man in this story”.
‘Disgust’
The police are now investigating whether the man was indeed involved in the incident and are still looking for witnesses. A spokesperson could not provide further details about what happened and what the suspect stated.
The rabbi and his wife are happy that someone has been arrested, but are not yet reassured. “We are very afraid. After the incident, my bicycle that is in front of the door was also broken. We are therefore very afraid for our house,” the woman told RTV Utrecht.
‘Strong approach’
According to Heinz, a firm approach to anti-Semitism is needed. “What I see is that anti-Semitism is tolerated. It starts with words and then turns into actions. How far should freedom of expression go?”
Shortly after the incident, Mayor Dijksma of Utrecht expressed her horror at the incident “and the anti-Semitism that is emerging in my city”.
