Around 200 police officers were searching for a man who attempted to set fire to a synagogue in La Grande-Motte, a city in southern France. The Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stated that authorities would be harsh with antisemitism following the incident. The attacker set fire to several entry doors of the synagogue and multiple cars, narrowly avoiding a tragedy. A police officer sustained minor injuries due to a gas bottle explosion as they secured the site of the attack. President Emmanuel Macron labelled the incident as a terrorist attack, and the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office took over the investigation.
Following the attack, police protection for synagogues, Jewish schools, and shops will be increased across France. This move came after a surge in antisemitic incidents in the country, attributed to the Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel’s response in Gaza. Reports indicated that the suspect had been captured on CCTV wearing a Palestinian flag shortly before the attack. Prime Minister Attal condemned the incident as an antisemitic attack, emphasizing that the Jewish community was once again targeted. The leader of CRIF, an umbrella organization for French Jewish groups, highlighted that the attempted attack was not just on a place of worship but also an attempt to harm Jews.
The incident took place in La Grande-Motte, a port and resort city located on the French Mediterranean coast. The suspect reportedly set fire to two cars, one of which contained a gas bottle, in the synagogue’s parking area early in the morning. Authorities arrived promptly at the scene, preventing a potential disaster. The police did not share detailed information about the suspect or the motive behind the attack. Prime Minister Attal reiterated his stance against antisemitism and violence, emphasizing that such acts would not intimidate them. Police resources were mobilized in the manhunt to locate the suspect responsible for the attempt to set fire to the synagogue.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal condemned the attack on the synagogue, stating that antisemitism would not be tolerated. The government pledged to increase security measures for Jewish institutions across the country in response to the incident. President Macron’s classification of the event as a terrorist attack underscored the severity of the situation. The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office took over the investigation to determine the motives and background of the suspect. The Jewish community in France expressed concern over the rise in antisemitic incidents following recent events in the Middle East. Efforts were underway to ensure the safety and protection of Jewish citizens amidst the escalating tensions.
