French authorities have opened an investigation after pigs’ heads were discovered outside several mosques in the Paris region, an incident that has drawn widespread condemnation.
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez confirmed the development on Tuesday via X, stressing that “every effort is being made to find the perpetrators of these despicable acts.”
According to a source close to the investigation, the heads were left on public roads in Paris and two surrounding areas, sparking concern among residents and religious communities.
France’s Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, described the incident as “outrageous” and “absolutely unacceptable,” adding: “I want our Muslim compatriots to be able to practice their faith in peace.”
France hosts the largest Muslim community in the European Union as well as the largest Jewish population outside Israel and the United States. Both groups have faced increased hostility in recent months.
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The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights recently reported a rise in both anti-Muslim hatred and anti-Semitism across several EU nations, a trend linked to the war in Gaza that began in October 2023.
The conflict erupted when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, prompting Israel to launch a prolonged offensive in the Gaza Strip. Since then, European governments have recorded spikes in religiously motivated hate crimes, intensifying concerns over community cohesion.
French police say the investigation is ongoing, with security heightened around religious sites to prevent further incidents.