LA GRANDE-MOTTE, France -French police have arrested a person suspected of making an attempt to set a synagogue ablaze within the southern French metropolis of los angeles Grande-Motte on Saturday, Inside Minister Gerald Darmanin stated.
About 200 law enforcement officials had been attempting to find the suspect, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stated earlier, including that the attacker had set fireplace to a number of entry doorways to the synagogue and several other automobiles close by.
BFM TV stated the suspect was a 33-year-old Algerian. Native police declined to offer particulars.
The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s workplace, which was put in command of the investigation, stated early on Sunday {that a} suspect had been arrested in Nîmes on Saturday night.
“Before the police could intervene, (the suspect) opened fire on the (police), which returned fire. The man was wounded in the face,” the workplace stated in an announcement, including that two different individuals have been taken into custody.
A policeman was barely injured when a fuel bottle exploded as police secured the positioning of the assault on Saturday morning, Attal stated.
“This is an antisemitic attack. Once more, our Jewish compatriots are targeted,” Attal stated on X. “In the face of antisemitism, in the face of violence, we will never allow ourselves to be intimidated.”
After visiting the synagogue, Attal stated an “absolute tragedy” had been narrowly averted after firefighters and police arrived shortly on the scene.
Native media reported earlier that the suspect had set fireplace to 2 automobiles, one among which contained a minimum of one fuel bottle, within the synagogue’s parking space at about 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT).
Police safety of synagogues, and Jewish colleges and retailers can be stepped up throughout France, the federal government stated.
France, like different international locations in Europe, has seen a surge in antisemitic incidents following the Hamas assault on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel’s retaliatory assault on Gaza.
Le Parisien, franceinfo and different media stated the suspect had been seen on CCTV shortly earlier than the assault with a Palestinian flag tied spherical his waist.
“Exploding a gas bottle in a car in front of the Grande Motte synagogue at the expected time of arrival of the faithful: it’s not just attacking a place of worship, it’s an attempt to kill Jews,” Yonathan Arfi, who leads the CRIF, an umbrella organisation of French Jewish teams, stated on X.
La Grande-Motte is a port and resort metropolis on the French Mediterranean coast.
