Swiss police say the 15-year-old suspect in the stabbing of an Orthodox Jewish man in Zurich over the weekend had appeared in a video expressing solidarity with ISIS, and called himself a “soldier” in its self-described “caliphate.”
Zurich cantonal police security chief Mario Fehr told reporters Monday that authorities were investigating whether the teen, who was not identified, had acted alone or as part of a group. Officials said the suspect was a Swiss national.
“He refers to ISIS, describes himself as a soldier of the caliphate,” Fehr said of the video that authorities had authenticated. He denounced the stabbing Saturday as a “terrorist” and “antisemitic” attack. The suspect was arrested at the scene.
Authorities said the 50-year-old victim was critically injured but his life was no longer in danger.
Police have stepped up security measures at Jewish sites in Zurich ever since the attack.
The extra security was put in place for "specific locations with a Jewish connection," police said, following discussions with local Jewish organizations.
Jonathan Kreutner, general secretary of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG), told Swiss television that physical attacks on Jewish people in the country were rare.
"A case like this is really a new dimension," he said.
