Soon after his arrival, a rumour spread that the Jews had boiled a Christian alive, and used his corpse to contaminate water to poison the town's wells.
The local populace later joined forces with Emicho and launched a savage attack on the town's Jews, who had been given sanctuary in Bishop Adalbert's palace, though others chose to remain outside its walls.
[3] After eight days, Emicho's army, assisted by local burghers broke in and slaughtered those seeking asylum there.
[5] In all, from 800 to 1,000 Jews were killed, with the exception of some who committed suicide (Martyrdom, known in Judaism as Kiddush Hashem) and a few who were forcibly baptised.
[8] In the late eleventh or early twelfth century a prayer was written in memory of those killed in the massacre called Av HaRachamim.