THIS is the shocking moment a pro-Palestine protester lights a flare at a classical music performance – and receives a brutal beating.
Footage shows the man getting repeatedly thumped, as he cowers under his arms, in the middle of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra concert in Paris.
Thursday’s concert was described as a moment of “intense violence” – the kind of thing “you associate with football hooligans.”
A member of the audience, Gilles, said: “It’s not the kind you would normally expect at a classical music concert.”
Dramatic video shows the protester setting light to the flare before being pounded by a mob.
Still holding the flame, the man tries to run away while almost setting himself on fire.
Several audience members are then seen furiously beating and kicking him.
Three women and one man were later arrested for public order offences, a spokesman for Paris prosecutors confirmed.
Three face prosecution for “participating in a group with the intent to commit violence or vandalism” – an offence punishable by one year behind bars and a fine equivalent to around £13,000.
The fourth person is being held for “organizing an undeclared demonstration”, which comes with a sentence of six months in prison and a £6,500 fine.
It’s believed, among those arrested, was a 20-year-old man, though no others have yet been identified.
Yonathan Arfi, from the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France, condemned the “hateful agitators” and claimed they were working as part of an “anti-Semitic campaign under the guise of anti-Zionism”’ for the trouble.”
Following Thursday’s arrests, protesters gathered outside a police station in central Paris, in an apparent show of solidarity with the detainees.
Calls for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra to cancel its concerts in France have grown amid the IDF’s continued assault on Palestinians.
Despite getting widespread backing from trade unions and political parties, a spokesman for the orchestra insisted they would press ahead with the program and lodge an official complaint about the latest protest.
It comes just a day after MORE than 700 police officers have been deployed on the streets surrounding Villa Park with 11 arrested amid protests at the match.
The controversial game went ahead despite Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters being banned from the ground and West Midlands Police classifying the fixture “high-risk”.
The massive police operation, involving mounted officers and canine units, has seen 11 people arrested.
They were taken into custody by cops for a variety of offences including trying to throw fireworks into the ground, possessing Class B drugs, and shouting racist abuse.
Those arrested were all men or boys between the ages of 17 and 67.
A number of protest groups targeted the game with demonstrations – which erupted shortly before kick-off and continued throughout the match.
The Maccabi team arrived at the stadium over four hours before kick-off.
They were transported in an unmarked white coach, with heavy security following in vans and cars driven by masked men.
Six weeks ago, there was a chance the game might not go ahead, with calls for Israeli teams to be removed from international competitions.
But once a ceasefire was agreed last month, it became clear that Israeli club Maccabi would stay in the Europa League, and travel to Birmingham.
