Simon Wiesenthal Center Condemns Deadly Anti-Semitic Terrorist Attack in Barcelona

August 17, 2017

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading Jewish Human Rights NGO condemned today’s horrific van attack outside Barcelona’s Maccabi restaurant. Initial reports speak of 13 dead and dozens injured.

“Once again we are witness to terrorist outrage in Europe, this time with apparent an anti-Jewish component,” said Rabbis Marvin Hier, Founder and Dean and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action of the Wiesenthal Center.

“It is still unclear if this was a cell of 'lone wolves' or terrorists trained by ISIS, but the brutal targeting of tourists and Jewish institutions follow a pattern of attacks that include Paris’ Hypercacher Supermarket and Brussels’ Jewish Museum,” Center officials added.

“We grieve for the families of the innocents, whatever faith or nationality, and urge Spanish authorities to secure Jewish institutions in their country,” Hier and Cooper also said.

“It is also past due for the European Union and their member states to acknowledge and take action to curb burgeoning anti-Semitism in the mainstream of their societies and across the Internet,” the rabbis said, concluding, "Failure to change the way the EU and its members approach anti-Jewish bias will hasten the end of Jewish communities in Europe.”


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The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).