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Neo‑Nazis Barricade Bansko Hotel and Shout “Sieg Heil” at Jewish Teen Delegation

Bulgarian police have opened an investigation, with leaders urging fast identification and prosecution as a sign of growing antisemitic intimidation in Europe.

Overview

  • A group of skinheads surrounded and blocked a hotel in Bansko on Sunday, shouting Nazi slogans, giving salutes and verbally threatening dozens of Jewish teenagers staying inside.
  • The youths were a delegation from Rome’s Jewish community and participants in a Bnei Akiva youth‑movement training program who included representatives from Israel.
  • Police officers arrived and initially drove the attackers away, but witnesses say the group returned after the officers left and again blocked hotel entrances.
  • Organizers filed a formal complaint and Bulgarian police say they have launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators; no injuries or arrests have been reported so far.
  • Community and Italian political leaders, including Victor Fadlun, Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini, condemned the episode and warned it reflects a recent spike in antisemitic incidents in Bulgarian resorts and across Europe.