Anti-Semitism surveillance unit to be established in Lyon, France

The French city of Lyon is establishing a special unit for the surveillance of anti-Semitic crimes in the region. The unit, to be made up of local attorneys, public officials and community representatives, will meet at least three times a year, the public attorney of the Lyon court of appeals said. Lyon, home to the third-largest Jewish community in France, has recently seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents. 32 attacks were reported in 2004, nearly twice as many as in 2003. Among the most serious of the infractions was the desecration last August of 60 graves in a Jewish cemetery near Lyon. A similar surveillance unit for more general hate crimes will be founded in the coming weeks.