Rabbi Tzemach Mizrachi, a Shliach of the Rebbe and Rav of the Central Beis Chabad in Milan, was attacked this evening by three young men while waiting at a bus stop in the city’s Jewish area, on his way to pick up his children from school.

Rabbi Mizrachi, 51, said that the three taunted him and grabbed his hat. When he asked to have it returned, one of them kicked him forcefully, sending him onto the road. Baruch Hashem, Rabbi Mizrachi did not require medical attention.

The three attackers were arrested shortly after the incident and taken in for questioning. Rabbi Mizrachi said that the police “took it very seriously,” and that the suspects are expected to remain in custody overnight.

Rabbi Mizrachi, an Israeli citizen who has been on the Rebbe’s Shlichus at Beis Chabad Milan for approximately 30 years, noted that in recent times there has been a greater presence of such individuals on the streets. He nevertheless expressed satisfaction with the police response to the incident.