Irish man who threatened to kill Jewish woman while referencing Hitler facing prison

An Irishman who was filmed making threatening remarks to Jewish people in a French supermarket is facing prison.

The man in his 60s is also accused of making anti-Semitic comments referring to Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust.

He was in custody in the Marseille area of southern France on Wednesday after he was identified after a video was posted online of the incident.

Public expressions of anti-Semitic hatred can be punished in France with up to five years in prison and fines reaching €45,000 (£38,000) 

There is no footage of the man mentioning Hitler or Jewish people, it is alleged by the woman on the video. On the video, he tells the woman: “You get the f*** away, before I put a f*****g bullet in your head”.

Announcing the suspect’s arrest on X on Wednesday evening, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said: “Kudos to the gendarmes for their investigation following the antisemitic threats and remarks made against tourists this summer at a hypermarket in Le Pontet.”

Mr Nunez added: “Antisemitism must be fought firmly and relentlessly.”

A French government spokesman said the Australian couple were “violently confronted in a French supermarket by an Irish national,” who “allegedly made serious antisemitic remarks before issuing death threats”.

The investigation into the alleged crimes is being carried out by judicial police based in Marseille.

Jewish groups in France have regularly complained about anti-Semitism being on the increase, with violent acts increasingly linked to the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. 

After the supermarket video was published, France’s anti-discrimination minister Aurore Bergé said: “France will never compromise with antisemitism and hatred. Our country is particularly mobilised, especially since October 7, 2023 [the date of the Hamas attack on Israel] and will remain so for as long as necessary to ensure that no one ever has to suffer hatred because of their origin or their real or perceived identity.”

And Serge Papin, the tourism minister, said: “France is a welcoming land, open to all those who wish to discover it, regardless of their nationality or religion. 

“No tourist should be targeted, threatened, or discriminated against because of who they are or what they believe.”

If charged he is likely to face a trial later this year.