A French Jewish, 19-year-old woman was raped on Monday night by one of three armed robbers who broke into the apartment she shared with her 21-year-old partner.

The three robbers, who reportedly told the couple they were targeting them "because Jews have money", were carrying handguns and a sawn-off shotgun.

Le Parisien reported that, before the rape, the men demanded that the couple hand over their credit cards and PIN numbers.

Then, one man raped the woman while another guarded her partner and a third withdrew money from a cash machine. The assailants spent around one hour inside the flat, police said.

French police arrested two suspects over the attack, which took place in the greater-Paris suburb of Créteil. A third suspect remains at large.

It appears that it is open season on Jews in France

"It is too early to tell if the victims were selected because they are Jewish," a law enforcement source told Le Parisien.

Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, said in a statement: "Once again, Jews have been violently targeted and attacked.

"Unfortunately, it appears that it is open season on Jews in France following so many recent violent attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions, going all the way back to the brutal torture and murder of Ilan Halimi."

Mr Kantor continued: "We call for the issue of antisemitic attacks to be placed at the forefront of the French government's agenda.

"This requires an immediate response and plan of action to rid France of this scourge and allow Jews to feel safe once again."