In the wake of the terror assault in Paris Friday evening, a leading French news website has suggested that the most deadly location, the Bataclan theater, may have been chosen for its known Jewish and Israel connections. More than 100 people were murdered and scores more injured after gunmen threw explosives, opened fire, and subsequently executed hostages in the theater as part of a coordinated assault at six different locations in Paris, killing more than 150 people. No group has claimed responsibility, though the AP cited a number of experts suggesting the sophisticated, coordinated attack was most likely conducted by Islamists.

According to the French newsmagazine Le Point, the theater has been the target of threats for years because of its frequent hosting of Jewish and Israel-focused events.

According to the report, an interrogation of a member of the “Jaish al-Islam” group in 2011 led to the suspect’s claim that “We had a planned attack against the Bataclan because the owners are Jews.”

Similarly, in December 2008, as seen in the video below, a group of youths wearing kaffiyehs descended upon employees of the theater, protesting a planned gala event for the Israeli Border Police.

According to the report, subsequent Israel-focused events were often accompanied by a flurry of anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic hate-speech online.

The specific event targeted this evening also had a known Israel connection. The southern-California band Eagles of Death Metal performed in Israel this past summer, despite public efforts led by former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters to convince them not to. According to YNet, the band resisted the call vigorously, with guitarist Jesse Hughes claiming to have answered Waters “F– you.”

[Photo: ParishSharing / Flickr ]