Neo-Nazi group tries to storm Sofia hotel housing Italian Jewish teens, shouting 'Sieg Heil'

The attack

On Sunday, 2 August, a group of neo-Nazis dressed in black shirts with skull symbols gathered outside a hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria, where dozens of Italian Jewish teenagers from Rome and Milan were staying with their educators. The assailants shouted the Nazi slogan "Sieg Heil," performed Nazi salutes, and attempted to force the hotel entrance. Video footage circulated on social media and published by the LaPresse news agency captured the group's actions and the tense minutes that followed.

“Un video documenta l'ignobile provocazione, i saluti nazisti e le urla "Sieg Heil!" di un gruppo di naziskin con le magliette nere e il teschio, che hanno cercato di forzare l'ingresso di un albergo dove si trovavano decine di adolescenti anche della Comunità Ebraica di Roma.”

Police intervention and return

Police intervened to prevent contact between the extremists and the teenagers. After the initial police response, however, the neo-Nazis returned and again blocked the hotel entrances, shouting threats at the young guests. The episode lasted several minutes of high tension, with the adolescents confined inside the building.

Community response

Victor Fadlun, President of the Jewish Community of Rome, condemned the attack in a statement and on his Instagram account. He described the incident as a grave antisemitic provocation and demanded action from Bulgarian authorities.

“I nostri figli non sono liberi di viaggiare in Europa senza essere esposti alla violenza e all'aggressione verbale degli antisemiti.”

Fadlun called on Bulgarian authorities to shed full light on the aggression and to identify and prosecute those responsible as quickly as possible. The Jewish Community of Rome formally condemned what it called the latest episode of antisemitism targeting Italian Jewish adolescents and their educators inside a European Union country.

Broader context

Il Messaggero reported that the episode reignites alarm over rising antisemitism in Europe, noting an acceleration of incidents following the events of 7 October 2023 and the war in the Middle East. The AGI news agency cited data from the Times of Israel showing that in July, 70% of all hate crimes in New York City targeted Jews. Confirmed anti-Jewish hate crimes in the city rose 8.5% this year, reaching 205 incidents compared to 189 in the same period last year.

What happens next

The investigation remains open to identify all those responsible. The incident is expected to carry diplomatic and political weight, feeding debate on the security of Jewish communities and the need to counter antisemitic violence across Europe.