Neo-Nazi mob storms Bulgarian hotel hosting Jewish youth group

A group of neo-Nazi activists attempted to break into a Sofia hotel where Italian Jewish teenagers were staying, giving Nazi salutes and shouting ‘Sieg Heil’ outside the building. The incident marks a troubling escalation of antisemitic violence in the Bulgarian capital and has drawn sharp condemnation from Italy, which has demanded a full investigation into the attack.
Police intervened to prevent the extremists from entering the hotel, but the mob subsequently blocked the building’s entrances in what appeared to be a coordinated intimidation campaign. The teenagers, who were part of a youth group visiting Bulgaria, were inside the hotel during the assault.
Italian authorities have formally requested that Bulgarian officials conduct a thorough investigation into the attack and identify those responsible. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about the resurgence of far-right extremism across Eastern Europe, where neo-Nazi groups have become increasingly bold in their public demonstrations and harassment of minority communities.
The attack also raises questions about security arrangements for Jewish groups and other vulnerable communities visiting Bulgaria, a country that has struggled in recent years with organized far-right movements and antisemitic incidents.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.