Police open terror probe after explosion outside synagogue in southern France

RFI

24 August 2024 at 7:34 am·1-min read

French authorities have stepped up security at Jewish institutions and opened a terror investigation after a blazing car exploded outside a synagogue on Saturday in the southern town of La Grande-Motte, injuring a police officer.

Local media said two cars, one of which contained at least one gas bottle, had been set on fire outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte, at about 8:30 a.m on Saturday.

Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said France's national anti-terror prosecutors (Pnat) had been tasked with probing the incident.

"La Grande Motte's synagogue was the target of an attack this morning," Attal said in a post on social media platform X. "An anti-semitic act. Once again, our Jewish fellow citizens are being targeted."

Earlier, acting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called the incident "an obviously criminal act" and said police were looking for a suspect.

"I want to assure our fellow Jewish citizens and the municipality of all my support and say that at the request of the President of the Republic @EmmanuelMacron, all means are being mobilised to find the perpetrator [of the attack]," Darmanin said on X.

Darmanin and Attal are due to travel to the scene later on Saturday.

'Attempt to kill Jews'

One police officer was injured in the explosion. William Maury, of police union Alliance Police Nationale, told BFM TV the officer's life was not in danger.

(with newswires)

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'Attempt to kill Jews'

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