A Jewish businessman and local community leader died in hospital following a stabbing attack on Tuesday in Paysandú, Uruguay, in what many consider an anti-Semitic attack.
The attacker reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" ('God is great' in Arabic) when killing 55-year-old David Fremd, of the local Jewish community which comprises around 20 families, outside his office, just as he was about to cross a street.
The attacker reportedly jumped at him and stabbed him in the back ten times. According to reports, one of Fremd's sons was also wounded in the attack.
Local police located and arrested the assassin, a 35-years-old man with a criminal past. Police are examining whether the attack was criminal or anti-Semitic in nature.
"There is no evidence that the attack has something to do with an organized group, but is rather an isolated act,” Sergio Gorzy, president of the Central Committee of the Jewish Community (CCIU), told an Uruguayan newspaper.
The CCIU later issued a statement in which it strongly condemned the assassination and added: "The characteristics of this homicide are conducive to the assumption that this was an anti-Semitic attack, which would be unacceptable for our society."
David Fremd was the director of the Paysandú Jewish community and also active at the national Jewish community level.
Paysandú is a small town on the Uruguay River, on the border with Argentina. Alejandro Wajner, the president of the Paysandú Jewish community, told the newspaper 'El País' that que Fremd "was a much-loved person who did not have any quarrels with anybody." He had not received any threats prior to the attack
About 15,000 Jews live in Uruguay.
