Austrian men attacked for their Jewish faith at Hungarian rest stop
On 6 April 2025, two Austrian men were subjected to a violent attack at the Babati rest area on the M3 motorway in Hungary. The incident, which occurred in the early afternoon, was reportedly motivated by religious hatred, as the victims were targeted for their Jewish faith. Two Romanian men, aged 30 and 47, have been arrested and charged with violence against members of a community.
The incident
The altercation began when the 30-year-old suspect noticed one of the Austrian men wearing clothing that visibly indicated his Jewish faith while in the restroom at the rest stop. The suspect verbally abused the victim, using derogatory remarks about his religion. The confrontation escalated when the victim’s brother intervened in the parking lot, prompting the involvement of the second Romanian suspect, police.hu writes.
The suspects continued their verbal assault with humiliating and religion-based insults before the situation turned physical. The attackers spat on one of the victims, broke his glasses, damaged his mobile phone, and retrieved an iron pipe from their vehicle. Despite this aggression, the victims managed to follow the suspects to a nearby police station to report the incident.
Arrests and legal proceedings
The Pest County investigators quickly apprehended the two Romanian suspects and interrogated them under suspicion of committing violence against members of a community. Both men remain in custody as authorities have requested their formal detention.
Hungarian police emphasised their commitment to addressing such crimes decisively. In an official statement, they condemned violence motivated by hatred and vowed to pursue justice within legal frameworks. They also stressed that identifying and apprehending perpetrators of such acts is a top priority to ensure accountability.
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