SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - In a bizarre attack, a well-known author and Holocaust scholar was dragged out of a San Francisco hotel elevator by an apparent Holocaust denier who reportedly had been trailing him for weeks.

Police escorted Elie Wiesel to San Francisco International Airport on Feb. 1 after a man accosted Wiesel in the elevator at the Argent Hotel, at 50 Third St., after Wiesel participated in a panel discussion at a peace conference and before Wiesel was scheduled to catch a flight back to New York.

Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and author of more than 40 books, including the memoir “Night,” about his experiences at Auschwitz, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Last fall, the Boston University professor was suggested as a possible replacement for Israeli President Moshe Katsav, who faces sexual assault charges.

Read more about Elie Wiesel and his best-selling book "Night."

Police confirmed this week that the attack took place and that officers escorted Wiesel to the airport following the attack. According to police, the suspect accosted Wiesel in the hotel elevator at around 6:30 p.m., saying he wanted to interview him. Wiesel said he would do the interview in the lobby. That’s when the attacker pulled him out of the elevator, police reported.

In a posting Tuesday on the anti-Zionist Web site ZioPedia, a writer using the name Eric Hunt takes credit for the attack: “After ensuring no women would be traumatized by what I had to do (I had been trailing Wiesel for weeks), I stopped the elevator at the sixth floor. I pulled Wiesel out of the elevator. I said I wanted to interview him.”

Wiesel grabbed at his chest and yelled for help, according to the posting. “I told him, ‘Why don’t you want people to know the truth?’ His expression changed, and he began screaming again. …” the posting reads.Police reported that the suspect tried to force Wiesel into one of the rooms, but ran away when Wiesel started yelling.

The online posting states that the writer intended to “bring Wiesel to my hotel room where he would truthfully answer my questions regarding the fact that his non-fiction Holocaust memoir, Night, is almost entirely fictitious.” Later in the posting, the Holocaust is portrayed as a “myth.”

Police haven’t officially idenitifed a suspect, but a source close to the investigation said Eric Hunt is the focus of their probe. Wiesel was in town to speak at the RockRose Institute’s World Conference 2007, Facing Violence, which addressed justice, religion and conflict resolution, according to its press release. The conference included former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Juan Mendez, adviser to the U.N. secretary-general, in its list of speakers. 

Hotel security alerted police following the incident, and officers from Southern Station arrived at the scene.

amartin@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

10:09 AM MST on Fri., May. 16, 2008 re: "Nobel laureate accosted at peace conference"

Examiner Reader said:
I hope you are okay and that the police find him now next time just tracel with someone you trust ill even travel with you because i love hearing your stories

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8:43 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 18, 2008 re: "Elie Wiesel attack suspect identified"

Person said:
Wow thats wierd

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7:41 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 31, 2008 re: "Trial for man accused of accosting Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel"

Examiner Reader said:
elie wiesel is my hero

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12:29 PM MST on Sat., Mar. 29, 2008 re: "Elie Wiesel attack suspect identified"

Examiner Reader said:
If Elie Wiesel has to return to San Fransisco for the trial of his attacker, I hope That Elie takes someone like a friend or family member with him and does not travel alone. I have always liked his books and I admire him.

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9:17 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 26, 2008 re: "Nobel laureate accosted at peace conference"

Examiner Reader said:
I am speechless as to the inhumanity and indifference that some readers seem to have. It speaks to the complete lack of connection that people have to one another. It is outrageous.

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10:16 AM MST on Fri., Mar. 21, 2008 re: "Wiesel attack suspect contrite"

Examiner Reader said:
it is not done and over with. whoever did it will surely come back for because they didn't finish the job.

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3:04 PM MST on Tue., Jan. 22, 2008 re: "Elie Wiesel attack suspect identified"

Examiner Reader said:
I feel really bad for the poor guy!He is really old how can he defend himself?!Oh well it is done and over with.

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8:13 AM MST on Thu., Jan. 10, 2008 re: "Elie Wiesel attack suspect identified"

Examiner Reader said:
You would have to be really stupid to not believe what happened to these people come on its HISTORY. This man lived that horror you unbelievers need to spend some time in Auschwitz!! Try something possitve for once in your lives instead of hatefulness!!!!

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8:37 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "Wiesel attack suspect contrite"

Examiner Reader said:
I think it was sincere because he didnt mean to scare Wiesel he just wanted to interview him and he souldnt be put in jail for trying to interview a author of a award winning book. OOOh Baby

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8:17 PM MST on Sun., Nov. 11, 2007 re: "Suspect in Wiesel attack case pleads insanity"

Examiner Reader said:
Wow. I hate to be off-topic about this, but check out the map function on this page. Seriously, I was able to point out the exact street where my house is.

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11:01 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 14, 2007 re: "Wiesel attack suspect contrite"

Examiner Reader said:
Hunt is sanity challenged--some may say: nuts"--his lawyer should reinstate the "not guilty by reason of insanity plea" and move on.

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9:32 PM MST on Tue., May. 22, 2007 re: "Nobel laureate accosted at peace conference"

Examiner Reader said:
To think that one of the most respected humanitarians on this earth could be attacked by an anti-Semitic from the looney bin is devastating. I completely agree with Miss Hamlyn, and I pray that Mr Hunt is brought to justice. For someone like him to be let off the hook easily would be embarrassing, not only for our legal system, but for society as a whole.

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2:50 PM MST on Wed., May. 9, 2007 re: "Nobel laureate accosted at peace conference"

The Beast said:
It was the right thing to do by not fighting back, that was incredibly evil what that man did. Who would want to try to degrade what an advocate for mankind has to say? Only someone with issues I concur....

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7:29 PM MST on Tue., May. 8, 2007 re: "Nobel laureate accosted at peace conference"

Logan Grace Hamlyn said:
How foolish people truely are, obviously his morals and understanding of certain things are crossed. Even if he doesn't believe the Holocaust happened, his behavior was outragious. Honestly, I feel worse for Mr. Hunts parents than for his terribly disturbed mind. Because even thought their son committed the crime, they are living in the shame brought upon them by it. As a fourteen year old girl, I'm just begginning to try to understand motives of mankind. This, though it's not the worse that could have happened, is an incredibly shameful and "dumb-minded" act to do on such a well respected man.

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6:21 AM MST on Thu., May. 3, 2007 re: "Elie Wiesel attack suspect identified"

Examiner Reader said:
wow well i feel sorry for what happend to you and hopefully those people will realize that people did die back then.i may only be 14 going on 15 but my grandmother was born in a concentration camp.. im not sure when... but hopefully people will see the story fromk your point of view

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4:47 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 16, 2007 re: "Elie Wiesel attack suspect identified"

Examiner Reader said:
thisis a shame people should stop hatin

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