PARIS – City authorities yesterday arrested a man suspected of spraying swastikas on columns near the world-famous Louvre museum, said prosecutors.
The red-paint swastikas were spotted along the upscale Rue de Rivoli artery in the city centre early yesterday, leading to passers-by posting pictures on social media.
Security officers arrested a man, said the mayor’s office on Twitter, while prosecutors said he is being investigated for property damage.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin lamented the “foul Nazi swastikas in the middle of Paris”, but praised the officers for reacting quickly.
“Cleaning teams will be on the scene quickly to eliminate all trace of these messages,” said city hall.
A source close to the probe told AFP that the suspect was born in Georgia in the Caucasus region in 1989.
Government figures recorded a 38% increase in racist incidents in France last year, including a 27% spike in anti-Semitic acts. – AFP, October 12, 2020
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