Star of David graffiti in Paris - the Russian connection

French police believe a graffiti campaign featuring Star of David stencils may have been the work of Russian intelligence.

In the last 10 days around 250 blue Stars of David - similar to the one on the Israeli flag - have appeared on buildings in Paris and its suburbs.

They prompted an outcry from French politicians, who presumed the signs were antisemitic.

But from the start investigators were more circumspect.

While politicians made comparisons with Nazi-era graffiti to "out" Jews in their homes, investigators pointed out the Stars of David were randomly distributed, with no obvious Jewish connection in the choice of buildings.

Also the message in the medium was confusing. Conceivably a blue Israeli flag, or what immediately evokes it, could be seen as a pro-Jewish sign. Surely any genuine antisemite would have found a clearer way of expressing their hate.

Having caught and questioned two Moldovan nationals in connection with the first wave of stencils, French police and intelligence services now suspect the operation may be a classic piece of Russian dezinformatsiya (disinformation).

According to a statement from the prosecutor's office on Wednesday, the graffiti was put up on the two nights in late October by two separate couples. From telephone tracking, they believe both couples were taking orders from the same person.

"At this stage it is not excluded that the [graffiti] was carried out under the express orders of a person living abroad," the prosecutor's office said.