French authorities have arrested an Irish man suspected of making antisemitic remarks and threatening an Australian Jewish couple during a confrontation at a supermarket near Avignon earlier this month.

The suspect, reported to be in his 60s, was arrested Wednesday in Avignon following an investigation into the August 11 incident, which drew international attention after video of the confrontation circulated widely online. He was subsequently held in custody in the Marseille area.

The Australian Jewish couple were visiting France when they encountered the man at a hypermarket in Le Pontet, on the outskirts of Avignon.

According to the couple's account, the interaction initially began as a friendly conversation after the man noticed the husband wearing a French football shirt. The discussion later turned to Ireland and Israel, at which point the couple alleges the man made an antisemitic remark invoking Hitler and the Holocaust.

That alleged remark was not recorded. However, the woman subsequently began filming the encounter, and the video captures the man making a serious threat against her while using inappropriate language.

French officials publicly condemned the incident after the footage emerged, and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced Wednesday that investigators had apprehended a suspect.

“Antisemitism must be fought firmly and relentlessly,” Nuñez said while praising the gendarmes who investigated the case.

The investigation is being conducted by judicial police based in Marseille. French reporting said the suspect remained in custody following his arrest. If prosecuted and convicted under applicable French law, he could face a prison sentence and substantial fine.

The arrest marks a significant development from the original incident: what began as viral footage and allegations from the Jewish tourists has now resulted in formal action by French authorities.