"I am not staying in a hotel with an Israeli": Israeli tourist attacked at a hostel in Australia
A French tourist who was staying with an Israeli tourist at a hostel in Australia is suspected of attacking him with a knife. According to the details, the Frenchman began to hug him defiantly and at a certain stage pulled out a 20-centimeter knife. In a WhatsApp message that preceded the incident, the attacker wrote to his friends: "The next time I see him at the hostel, maybe we will go to a place without cameras."
A 25-year-old French tourist has been charged with a hate-motivated assault after attacking an Israeli tourist at a hostel in Australia, pulling a 20-centimeter knife on him, and making anti-Israeli statements. According to a report by ABC, the attacker is Leo Raymond Cotten; his bail application was denied, and he will remain in custody until his next court hearing in September.
Cotten's lawyer, Rowan King, told the court that the incident began when his client hugged the complainant, who told him not to touch him. According to King, Cotten replied: "I will hug you if I want to," and then hugged him again. Subsequently, it is alleged, he reached into his bag and pulled out a 20-centimeter knife. "There is no evidence that he hit him or did anything more serious than that," King said.
The incident occurred at the Mad Monkey Backpackers hostel on Sheridan Street in Cairns at approximately 5:00 PM two days ago. Cotten, a French citizen, approached the Israeli and allegedly said to him: "You are killing people in Gaza, I am not staying in a hotel with an Israeli, f*** Israel."
King argued in court that the assault charge refers to the hug itself. According to him, the statements attributed to his client referred to the complainant's citizenship or nationality, not his religion. He further claimed that Cotten told him there was underlying hostility between the Israeli and other people staying at the hostel.
In court, it was noted that in a WhatsApp group chat, which included Cotten and 13 other backpackers, the group members obtained a photo of the Israeli from social media. King said it was documentation from the complainant's Instagram, where he is seen in military uniform and in war photos. According to the court, Cotten sent two messages, one of which read:
"The next time I see him at the hostel, maybe we will go to a place without cameras."
Police prosecutor Olivier Clais opposed bail, saying he was concerned about the risk of further offenses and the danger to other members of the public, especially those of Israeli or Jewish descent. According to him, it is likely that the defendant will receive a prison sentence in Australia. Judge Tom Bryce denied the bail application, and Cotten is expected to return to court on September 11.
