IHT PARIS: France's interior ministry says masked thieves who attacked a young man east of Paris to steal his car repeatedly stabbed him after noticing he was wearing a Jewish symbol.

They were normal, peace-loving thieves until they were provoked by the "Jewish symbol" into shouting antisemitic slurs and stabbing the unwise victim with a knife they just happened to have along, but of course, had no intention of using.

Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie has condemned the "revolting attack" in the suburban town of Fontenay-sous-Bois and says authorities are working to find the perpetrators.

The ministry said in a statement Friday that the attackers shouted anti-Semitic threats at the man as they stabbed him four times with a knife in the Thursday evening attack.

It did not provide details on the man's condition.

Alliot-Marie has said France has experienced a clear increase in anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim attacks since Israel began an assault against Hamas in Gaza on Dec. 27.

Uh...antisemitic AND anti-Muslim attacks? What anti-Muslim attacks?