While shouting Allahu Akbar, a man stabbed David Fremd 10 times and murdered him. The Jewish community is certain the attack was motivated by anti-Semitism.
A Jewish businessman and local community leader was stabbed to death on Tuesday in Paysandú, Uruguay, in what appears to be an anti-Semitic attack by a Muslim.
The murderer reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” (‘Arabic for “God is great,” a phrase often shouted by Muslim terrorists while carrying out attacks) when stabbing David Fremd, 55, of the local Jewish community which comprises around 20 families, outside his office, just as he was about to cross a street.
The murderer reportedly stabbed Fremd in the back ten times, and also stabbed and wounded one of Fremd’s sons.
Police arrested the murderer, described as a 35-year-old man with a criminal past.
Police are examining whether the attack was criminal or motivated by anti-Semitism.
“There is no evidence that the attack has something to do with an organized group, but is rather an isolated act,” Sergio Gorzy, president of the Central Committee of the Jewish Community (CCIU), told a Uruguayan newspaper.
The CCIU later issued a statement in which it strongly condemned the murder. “The characteristics of this homicide are conducive to the assumption that this was an anti-Semitic attack, which would be unacceptable for our society.”
David Fremd was the director of the Paysandú Jewish community and also active at the national Jewish community level.
Alejandro Wajner, the president of the Paysandú Jewish community, told the newspaper ‘El País’ that Fremd “was a much-loved person who did not have any quarrels with anybody.”
He had not received any threats prior to the attack
About 15,000 Jews live in Uruguay.
