French police have arrested a 27-year-old man following the death of his female Jewish neighbour, whose body was discovered outside their apartment.

The woman, who has been named as 66 year-old Sarah Halimi, was found dead on Monday night.

Police are believed to be probing whether she was deliberately pushed from her window on Vaucouleurs Street in the 11th district of the French capital.

The National Bureau for Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism watchdog believes it may have been premeditated murder, possibly aggravated by racial hatred.

The watchdog’s president, Sammy Ghozlan, a retired police commissioner, said relatives of Ms Halimi said that she had experienced antisemitic harassment by a relative of the man under arrest.

“This tragedy may have been the result of a random violent crime by a thug, or maybe there was a background of racial hatred here, or hateful ideology — at this point it’s not known yet,” Mr Ghozlan said.

Ms Halimi’s family wants to have her buried in Jerusalem. The body will undergo an autopsy.