The French anti-terrorism prosecutor's office is investigating the synagogue fire, outgoing French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal wrote in X.
He added that the security forces are now tracking the suspect.
The incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism. Prime Minister Atal He describes the work as anti-Semitic.
Police and firefighters are assessing the damage after at least two cars caught fire outside the Beth Jacob synagogue in southern France.
Photo: Pascal Guillot/AFP
The rabbis were present at the assembly.
On Friday morning, two cars caught fire outside a synagogue in the village of La Grande-Motte in the Hérault region of southern France.
French media reported that the fire led to the explosion of one car.
It was initially reported that no one was inside the synagogue, but according to French prosecutors, there were five people in the building, including a rabbi, when the fire broke out outside.
Two of the synagogue's doors were also set on fire.
French police on guard after cars set on fire outside synagogue.
Photo: Manon Cruz/Reuters
A police officer was injured in the explosion. He was already at the scene and was caught in the pressure wave when it exploded.
Le Parisien newspaper wrote that the explosion may have been caused by a gas bottle in one of the cars.
Herault Senator Hossein Borji says injured policeman's condition 'does not appear serious' On BFMTV.
La Grande-Motte is located on the coast in the far south of France.
– openly criminal
President Emmanuel Macron Type X “Everything will be done to find the culprit.”
He adds that his thoughts go out to “all those threatened at the Grand Motte Synagogue and all Jews in our country.”
– The attempted arson attack on the synagogue in La Grande-Motte was clearly a criminal act, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin wrote. On X.
According to the city's mayor, Stephane Rossignol, a surveillance camera outside the synagogue captured a person leaving the city just before the explosion. I write for Le Parisien newspaper.
Terrorist police told France TV that initial investigations may indicate that the attacker was wearing a Palestinian flag and carrying a weapon.
The perpetrator was said to be wearing a keffiyeh, carrying a gun and a Palestinian flag. Police sources told Le Figaro.
The police have not arrested anyone yet.
Security escalation
Interior Minister Darmanin, on behalf of President Macron, has asked all regional departments to strengthen security and increase police presence around Jewish buildings, France Info television reported.
Darmanin and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal travel to La Grande-Motte on Friday afternoon.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (left) and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin travel to La Grande-Motte. Pictured is a ceremony earlier in August.
Photo: Alain Jocard / AFP
Earlier this summer, two young men were accused of plotting terrorist attacks against Jewish targets in Paris, according to AFP.
– The Republic will never tolerate anti-Semitism.
Several politicians have expressed support for the Jewish community, making clear that anti-Semitism has no place in France.
– The Republic will never tolerate anti-Semitism, wrote the candidate for prime minister of the New Front party, Lucie Castets, on the X website. She added that she would fight anti-Semitism “with all her might.”
Lucie Castets, the candidate for prime minister for the New People's Front, said that anti-Semitism has no place in France.
Photo: Pascal Guillot/AFP
Several politicians have condemned what they call a “criminal and anti-Semitic attack,” including Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right Nassjonal Samling party, and party member Jordan Bardella.
– These attacks are a result of the anti-Semitism that is spreading in our country, Le Pen wrote on X.
“All of France is affected when a synagogue is attacked,” says former leftist President François Hollande.
Published
08/24/2024 12:59
Updated
24.08.2024 14:57
“Organizer. Social media geek. General communicator. Bacon scholar. Proud pop culture trailblazer.”