Two automobiles burst into flames after a gasoline canister seemingly exploded inside one of many autos, police stated.
A police officer has been injured in an explosion exterior a synagogue in southern France, because the authorities referred to as the incident a deliberate assault and stated safety at Jewish establishments could be stepped up.
Police had been looking for a suspect and the antiterrorism prosecutor’s workplace was put in control of the investigation, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stated on Saturday.
“That is an antisemitic assault. As soon as extra, our Jewish compatriots are focused,” Attal stated on X. “We received’t surrender. Within the face of anti-Semitism, within the face of violence, we are going to by no means enable ourselves to be intimidated.”
Two automobiles exterior the synagogue in La Grande-Motte, a Mediterranean coastal metropolis close to Montpellier, burst into flames after a gasoline canister seemingly exploded inside one of many autos, police stated.
Native media reported that the incident occurred at about 8:30am (06:30 GMT).
“Exploding a gasoline bottle in a automobile in entrance of the Grande Motte synagogue on the anticipated time of arrival of the devoted: it’s not simply attacking a spot of worship, it’s an try to kill Jews,” Yonathan Arfi, who leads the CRIF, an umbrella organisation of French Jewish teams, stated on X.
Two doorways of the synagogue had been additionally set on fireplace. It’s unclear whether or not this occurred earlier than or after the explosion.
William Maury, of the police union Alliance Police Nationale, advised BFM TV the injured police officer’s life was not in peril.
Police confirmed the tried arson however declined to present extra particulars.
It was not instantly clear how many individuals had been contained in the synagogue on the time. There aren’t any experiences of different accidents.
Inside Minister Gerald Darmanin stated police safety of synagogues and Jewish faculties and retailers could be strengthened throughout France.
He stated the incident was being handled as an “tried arson” that’s “clearly a felony act”.
“I need to guarantee our Jewish fellow residents of my full assist and say that on the request of President Emmanuel Macron all means are being mobilised to search out the perpetrator,” Darmanin stated in a put up on X.
Attal and Darmanin are set to go to the synagogue in a while Saturday.
