A group of neo-Nazis surrounded a hotel in the Bulgarian resort town of Bansko on Sunday, blocking its entrances and threatening dozens of Jewish teenagers staying inside.

The group of skinheads, dressed in black shirts bearing skull symbols, shouted curses at the teenagers, gave Nazi salutes and chanted “Sieg Heil.” The Jewish youths included a delegation from Rome’s Jewish community and representatives from Israel who were attending an international training program for youth movement counselors.

Police officers called to the scene initially drove the attackers away. However, the neo-Nazis returned shortly after the officers left, once again blocking the hotel entrances and threatening the teenagers.

Victor Fadlun, president of Rome’s Jewish community, condemned the attack and said the teenagers endured several tense minutes after the group returned.

“Our children are not free to travel throughout Europe without being exposed to violence and verbal harassment by antisemites,” Fadlun said. “There were long minutes of tension, also because after the police intervened, the Nazi skinheads returned, once again blocked the entrances, threatened our children and shouted at them.”

Fadlun called on Bulgarian authorities to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and bring them to justice as quickly as possible.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also condemned the attack, calling antisemitism “a virus that must be fought” and “a form of hatred and discrimination that must be eradicated.”

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini described the incident as extremely serious and condemned all violence by extremists against Jewish communities.

“Every form of ‘Jew hunt’ is hateful and unacceptable,” Salvini said, adding that Italy stands in solidarity with the Jewish teenagers.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)