A swastika was discovered on the plaque of the garden named in honour of Sarah Halimi and Mireille Knoll, two Jewish women brutally murdered in Paris in 2017 and 2018.
The graffiti was located at the corner of Avenue des Marronniers and Avenue de Joinville in Nogent-sur-Marne, and was swiftly removed by city officials.
Mayor Jacques JP Martin has strongly condemned the incident, describing it as an expression of ignorance and hatred.
“This act of vandalism is utterly reprehensible, and I have informed the police to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” stated Martin.
The mayor also confirmed that an investigation has been launched, with local authorities using CCTV footage to help identify the perpetrators.
Sarah Halimi, born in Nogent-sur-Marne, lived in the town for nearly 30 years before her murder. The garden was inaugurated in November 2022 in memory of both women, making the defacement particularly distressing for the local community. The mayor expressed disbelief, noting that no local tensions could explain the act.
Martin added that while Nogent-sur-Marne had been spared from the recent surge in antisemitic incidents seen across France, this act demonstrates that hatred and ignorance had, unfortunately, breached the town’s peace. He concluded: “We will not allow hate to take root in Nogent. We will not let Sarah Halimi and Mireille Knoll be murdered a second time.”
The investigation is ongoing.
