PARIS, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- French authorities allege anti-Semitism played a role in the recent torture killing of a 23-year-old Jewish store clerk in Paris.
An investigative magistrate said some of five male and two female suspects would be charged with hate crimes besides kidnap and murder charges in the death of Ilan Halimi, The Los Angeles Times reported quoting French officials and media.
Earlier, the Jewish community had protests saying politicians were playing down the crime because of ongoing tensions from the riots of last year involving mostly Muslim youths, the report said.
Police deny those accusations. They also say they have found no ties between the suspects and Islamic extremist networks in Europe.
Halimi was held captive for 24 days by the gang calling itself "The Barbarians." Authorities say the gang had taunted Halimi's family and a rabbi with anti-Semitic epithets and recited Koranic verses during telephone calls and e-mail messages.
Police say Halimi was beaten and his body was found burned and mutilated. They are still looking for the gang's leader, said to be an ex-convict from Ivory Coast.
Separately, Britain's Independent reported the Jewish protest was marred by a number of violent actions by some young Jewish men including an attack on an Arab-run grocery.
