A young Jewish woman was stabbed at her home in Lyon (southeastern France), the prosecutor's office announced on Saturday, November 4, confirming initial reports from the local newspaper Le Progrès and news television channel BFM-TV. The prosecutor's office said there could be "an anti-Semitic motive." An investigation into attempted murder has been opened, the prosecutor's office announced, adding that the victim's life was not in danger and that "no arrests" have been made.

A police source told Le Monde the stabbing took place early Saturday afternoon on the doorstep of the victim's apartment. According to her account, the woman, who is in her thirties and was alone in her apartment, opened the door when the doorbell rang. She was then stabbed twice in the abdomen by a hooded man. The victim said she called her cousin for help. When she arrived at the scene, the cousin called the emergency services and discovered a swastika on the door. The victim's Jewish-sounding name and the mezuzah next to her door were evidence of her religion.

"It is too early to attribute this attack to an anti-Semitic act, other leads are being investigated," a source close to the investigation told Le Monde, urging "the greatest caution" in the current context of tensions in relation to the war between Israel and Hamas. In particular, the police are looking into the victim's personal entourage.

Earlier this evening, Lyon Mayor Grégory Doucet wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that "such an outpouring of violence is unspeakable," adding: "All my support to the victim, to her loved ones."

"This abominable assault is causing great concern in the Jewish community," reacted the regional branch of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF), adding it "strongly condemns the attack." In its statement, the organization said: "However, given the state of ongoing investigations, [head of the branch] Richard Zelmati calls for both reason and caution. It will be up to the courts to characterize the offenses and their anti-Semitic nature."