Explosion Near Synagogue in France Leaves Police Officer Injured
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin condemned the incident outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue, describing it as “clearly criminal.” Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
A police officer sustained injuries after a vehicle exploded next to the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte, France, as confirmed by police on Saturday morning.
Following an incident that occurred shortly before the explosion where two vehicles were ignited—one reportedly containing a gas canister—France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin commented on the situation. “An attempted arson, clearly criminal, affected the synagogue in La Grande Motte this morning,” he declared in a statement on X, previously known as Twitter. He also mentioned that efforts are being taken to apprehend the individual responsible.
According to the Mayor of La Grande-Motte, Stephane Rossignol, security footage showed someone igniting the vehicles next to the synagogue. This report came from French daily Le Figaro.
Media sources indicated that the suspect was observed exiting the vicinity, reportedly wearing a keffiyeh scarf and holding a Palestinian flag, and is still not captured.
The fire resulted in damage to two doors of the religious building, as reported by Le Figaro, with a bomb disposal squad subsequently dispatched to the scene.
Later in the day, both Darmanin and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal plan to visit the site of the arson.
The injured municipal police officer was promptly taken to the emergency department of Montpellier University Hospital. Reports suggest that the officer's injuries are not critical.
In response to this incident and a noticeable rise in anti-Semitic actions in France since 2023, especially after the events of October when Hamas attacked Israel causing a significant military response in Gaza, French officials have heightened security measures around synagogues.
There have been several notable incidents recently, including the fatal shooting by police of a man attempting to set fire to a synagogue in Rouen in May. Another alarming event occurred in March, when a 62-year-old man, identified by his traditional Jewish cap, was attacked and verbally abused in Paris after he had left a synagogue, with the assailant fleeing on foot soon after the assault.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
Following an incident that occurred shortly before the explosion where two vehicles were ignited—one reportedly containing a gas canister—France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin commented on the situation. “An attempted arson, clearly criminal, affected the synagogue in La Grande Motte this morning,” he declared in a statement on X, previously known as Twitter. He also mentioned that efforts are being taken to apprehend the individual responsible.
According to the Mayor of La Grande-Motte, Stephane Rossignol, security footage showed someone igniting the vehicles next to the synagogue. This report came from French daily Le Figaro.
Media sources indicated that the suspect was observed exiting the vicinity, reportedly wearing a keffiyeh scarf and holding a Palestinian flag, and is still not captured.
The fire resulted in damage to two doors of the religious building, as reported by Le Figaro, with a bomb disposal squad subsequently dispatched to the scene.
Later in the day, both Darmanin and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal plan to visit the site of the arson.
The injured municipal police officer was promptly taken to the emergency department of Montpellier University Hospital. Reports suggest that the officer's injuries are not critical.
In response to this incident and a noticeable rise in anti-Semitic actions in France since 2023, especially after the events of October when Hamas attacked Israel causing a significant military response in Gaza, French officials have heightened security measures around synagogues.
There have been several notable incidents recently, including the fatal shooting by police of a man attempting to set fire to a synagogue in Rouen in May. Another alarming event occurred in March, when a 62-year-old man, identified by his traditional Jewish cap, was attacked and verbally abused in Paris after he had left a synagogue, with the assailant fleeing on foot soon after the assault.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
