French prosecutors have opened an investigation into a leisure park manager accused of discrimination after he barred a group of Israelis from entering the facility he oversaw.
The 52-year-old, who has no prior criminal record, was arrested on Thursday after he turned away the group in Porte-Puymorens, a mountain village in the western Pyrenees near Perpignan. He was released as the investigation continues.
Authorities say the man admitted he denied entry to the group because of his “personal convictions”. If convicted of discrimination based on nationality or ethnic origin, he faces up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine.
The group of Israeli tourists were part of a holiday programme involving 150 Israeli tourists staying in Spain. They had a booking “made well in advance”, prosecutors said, but were refused entry upon arrival.
Officials arranged for three buses to take the group to another site in France under police protection, with no incidents reported.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the incident as “serious”, calling for a firm judicial response. “Authorities cannot remain passive when anti-Semitic acts are on the rise,” he said.
