Pro-Palestine protester beaten after lighting flare during Israel Philharmonic concert in Paris
This is the shocking moment a pro-Palestine protester lights a flare at a classical music performance – and receives a brutal beating.
Footage shows the man getting repeatedly punched, as he cowers under his arms, in the middle of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra concert in Paris.
Thursday’s concert was described as a moment of “intense violence” – the kind of thing “you associate with football hooligans.”
A member of the audience, Gilles, said: “It’s not the kind you would normally expect at a classical music concert.”
Dramatic video shows the protester setting light to the flare before being pounded by a mob.
Still holding the flame, the man tries to run away while almost setting himself on fire.
Several audience members are then seen furiously beating and kicking him.
Three women and one man were later arrested for public order offences, a spokesman for Paris prosecutors confirmed.
Three face prosecution for “participating in a group with the intent to commit violence or vandalism” – an offence punishable by one year behind bars and a fine equivalent to around £13,000.
The fourth person is being held for “organizing an undeclared demonstration”, which comes with a sentence of six months in prison and a £6,500 fine.
It’s believed, among those arrested, was a 20-year-old man, though no others have yet been identified.
Yonathan Arfi, from the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France, condemned the “hateful agitators” and claimed they were working as part of an “anti-Semitic campaign under the guise of anti-Zionism”.
Following Thursday’s arrests, protesters gathered outside a police station in central Paris, in an apparent show of solidarity with the detainees.
Calls for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra to cancel its concerts in France have grown over the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
A ceasefire in the Middle East has been violated on several occasions in recent weeks with the IDF saying Hamas must return every last hostage body of those who died in captivity.
Six deceased hostages – five Israelis and one Thai – are still in Gaza with Hamas claiming they can’t locate any more bodies.
A spokesman for the orchestra insisted they will press ahead with the schedule but will lodge an official complaint about Thursday’s protest.
It comes just a day after more than 700 police officers were deployed on the streets surrounding Villa Park for the much-anticipated Villa match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The controversial game went ahead despite Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters being banned from the ground and West Midlands Police classifying the fixture “high-risk”.
The massive police operation, involving mounted officers and canine units, saw 11 people arrested.
They were taken into custody by cops for a variety of offences including trying to throw fireworks into the ground, possessing Class B drugs, and shouting racist abuse.
Those arrested were all men or boys between the ages of 17 and 67.
A number of protest groups targeted the game with demonstrations – which erupted shortly before kick-off and continued throughout the match.
The Maccabi team arrived at the stadium over four hours before kick-off.
They were transported in an unmarked white coach, with heavy security following in vans and cars driven by masked men.
Ever since Birmingham’s council-led Safety Advisory Group, in consultation with the Police, announced last month that Maccabi fans would not be allowed to watch the Europa League game, Villa found themselves unwittingly at the center of global crosshairs.
The SAG cited incidents at previous Maccabi European games, including in Amsterdam last season, arguing that it made the match “high risk” and that a ban on traveling fans was required.
World Affairs Correspondent
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