French police arrested this Saturday evening Man suspected of attempting to set fire to synagogue in the town of La Grande-Motte on the French Mediterranean coast, as confirmed by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
A few 200 police officers They were searching for the suspect, who had set fire to several entrance doors of the synagogue and several cars nearby.
BFM television channel reported that the suspect is a 33 year old AlgerianLocal police declined to provide further details.
The anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office, in charge of the investigation, indicated this Sunday morning that a suspect had been arrested on Saturday evening in the city of Nimes.
“Before the police could intervene, (the suspect) opened fire on the police, who returned fire. The man was injured in the face“, the office said in a statement, adding that two other people had been arrested.
A police officer was slightly injured when a gas cylinder exploded as police were securing the scene of the attack Saturday morning, Attal said.
“ANDThis is an anti-Semitic attack“Once again, our Jewish compatriots are in the crosshairs,” Attal said in X. “Faced with anti-Semitism, faced with violence, we will never let ourselves be intimidated.”
An attack on the synagogue in La Grande Motte this morning. An anti-Semitic act. Once again, our Jewish fellow citizens are being targeted.
I extend my full support to them in this new ordeal. We are at their side.
Recognition to firefighters for…
-Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) August 24, 2024
After visiting the synagogue, Attal said that an “absolute tragedy” had been avoided shortly after the firefighters and police arrived quickly on the scene.
Local media previously reported that the suspect hhad set fire to two carsone of which contained at least one gas canister, in the synagogue parking lot around 8:30 a.m.
The French government has stated that Police protection of synagogues, schools and Jewish businesses to be increased throughout France.
The Parisian, Franceinfo and other media outlets said the suspect was seen on a security camera shortly before the attack with a Palestinian flag tied around his waist.
Increase in anti-Semitic attacks
The attack sparked all sorts of condemnation and rejection of anti-Semitism from the French political class.
“When a synagogue is attacked, the target is all of France,” denounced former President François Hollande in a statement, adding that “anti-Semitism must be unanimously denounced and fought.”
France, like other European countries, has experienced an increase in anti-Semitic incidents following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 and Israel’s response in the Gaza Strip.
