PARIS, Jan 16: Masked thieves who on Thursday attacked a young man east of Paris to steal his car repeatedly stabbed him after noticing he was wearing a Jewish symbol.

French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie condemned the “revolting attack” in the suburban town of Fontenay-sous-Bois and said authorities were working to find the perpetrators.

The interior ministry said in a statement that the attackers shouted anti-Semitic threats at the man as they stabbed him four times with a knife in the evening attack.

Alliot-Marie has said France has experienced a clear increase in anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim attacks since Israel began an assault against Hamas in Gaza on Dec 27.—AP