THIS is the shocking moment a defenceless nun is brutally attacked by a man in the heart of Jerusalem.
Harrowing CCTV footage shows the unsuspecting nun walking alone when a man suddenly sprints towards her from behind and violently shoves her with full force.
The nun, who was wearing a tunic, is hurled to the floor and viciously kicked in broad daylight.
She is seen writhing in pain and clutching her head as the attacker walks away then suddenly strides back towards her.
He begins to repeatedly kick the stricken woman as she lies helplessly on the ground.
The assault only stops when a bystander rushes in to intervene.
The attack took place in front of the Cenacle on Mount Zion – a deeply significant religious site for both Christians and Jews.
Some Christians believe Jesus held the Last Supper at this location.
Police confirmed a suspect has now been arrested.
“The suspect, a 36-year-old male, was identified and subsequently arrested by police,” the force said, adding it viewed with “utmost severity” any violent act “driven by potentially racist motives and directed toward members of the clergy”.
Officers said the man was detained “on suspicion of assault, with all potential motives under examination”.
The assault comes amid wider tensions, following a separate incident earlier this month in which Israeli soldiers were removed from combat duty after destroying a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon.
The act drew widespread condemnation.
The Israeli military said it viewed the incident with “great severity”, adding the soldier’s conduct was “wholly inconsistent with the values expected”.
Footage released by police showed the nun visibly bruised, while the attacker appeared to be wearing tzitzit – a garment associated with observant Jewish men.
The Times of Israel reported that the arrested suspect was Jewish.
The victim – a 48-year-old nun – has been left deeply shaken by the ordeal.
Father Olivier Poquillon said: “Yesterday, around 17.45 … she felt someone come up behind her and throw her with full force onto a rock.
“While the sister was on the ground, the man began to kick her repeatedly.”
He had earlier blasted the incident as a “gratuitous assault”, describing it as an “act of sectarian violence” and warning that “the scourge of hatred is a common challenge”.
‘Pending the judicial follow-up, we thank the people who came to the aid of our sister during the attack she fell victim to, the diplomats, the academics, and all those who provided their support,’ he wrote.
The French Consulate in Jerusalem also issued a statement “strongly condemning” the attack.
Israel’s foreign ministry branded the assault a “shameful act”, insisting the country remains committed “to safeguarding freedom of religion and freedom of worship for all faiths”.
The Faculty of Humanities at Hebrew University said it was not an isolated case, warning of a “troubling pattern” of hostility towards Christians.
A European diplomatic source echoed those fears, claiming anti-Christian abuse – including insults and spitting at clergy – has become a daily occurrence.
Wadie Abunassar, coordinator of the Holy Land Christian Forum, said attacks targeting Christians are on the rise – but warned perpetrators often escape serious consequences.
He said he felt “great anger on the system and great sadness because I feel that this will not end anytime soon”.
“Many times in such cases there are no arrests and if there are arrests, sometimes after one or two days, [suspects] are released,” he added.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/16302705/nun-kicked-jerusalem-jesus-statue-fury/