Français police have arrested a man suspected of attempting to set fire to a synagogue in the town of La Grande-Motte in southern France. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on social media platform X that the suspect was apprehended on Saturday evening.
The office of the anti-terrorism prosecutor, which is handling the investigation, stated early Sunday that the arrest took place in Nîmes. According to the office, the suspect opened fire on the police, who returned fire. The man was hit in the face during the exchange of gunfire.
French media, citing sources close to the investigation, reported that the arrested individual is a 33-year-old Algerian national, although local police have not confirmed this information.
Police reported that the suspect had set fire to two cars, one of which contained at least one gas cylinder in the synagogue’s parking lot. The gas cylinder exploded, injuring an officer who rushed to the scene to assist. Two fires were also ignited at the entrance of the synagogue, damaging two doors, but these were quickly extinguished by firefighters.
The incident occurred during Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, when there was no religious service taking place in the synagogue. A rabbi and four other individuals were present in the synagogue at the time of the attack, but fortunately, no one was injured.
France’s interim Prime Minister Gabriel Attal visited the synagogue on Saturday and stated that they “almost avoided an absolute tragedy.” He emphasized that “French Jews have once again been targeted and attacked because of their faith.” Attal also stressed that if the synagogue had been filled with worshipers, there could have easily been human casualties.
Earlier in August, Darmanin announced that the government had recorded 887 anti-Semitic incidents in the country during 2024, nearly tripling in just one year. In response to this attack, the government has announced that police protection of synagogues, Jewish schools, and stores across France will be intensified.