Overview
- A group of black‑clad skinheads surrounded a hotel in Bansko on Sunday, blocked entrances, shouted Nazi slogans including “Sieg Heil,” gave Nazi salutes and threatened dozens of Jewish teenagers from Rome and Israel who were attending a youth movement training program.
- Police officers arrived and initially dispersed the attackers, but camp organizers say the group returned shortly after officers left and again blocked the hotel and harassed the youths.
- Camp organizers filed a formal complaint and Bulgarian police say they have launched an investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible while reporting that no physical injuries occurred.
- Victor Fadlun, president of Rome’s Jewish community, and Italian officials including Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini publicly condemned the episode and urged swift legal action and better protection for Jewish groups traveling abroad.
- The attack follows other recent antisemitic incidents in Bulgaria and reflects a broader rise in threats and violence against Jews in Europe since October 2023, raising new concerns about the safety of youth delegations and the effectiveness of local policing.