‘Terror attack’: Synagogue blast suspect opens fire

A man suspected of setting fires and causing an explosion outside a synagogue in southern France has been captured after a gun battle with police.

A man suspected of setting fires and causing an explosion outside a synagogue in southern France has been captured after a gun battle with police.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said “the alleged perpetrator” had been detained and that the police had shown “great professionalism”.

The suspect was shot and injured by police after he opened fire on the officers who came to arrest him in the city of Nimes, according to French media.

Earlier, a police officer was injured in the blast outside the the Beth Yaacov synagogue in the resort town of La Grande-Motte, near Montpellier.

Authorities said the incident, caused by cars which were set alight, was being treated as a potential terror attack.

The lone suspect had set multiple cars on fire in a carpark across the street from before one exploded, CNN reports.

Special forces negotiators flanked by a French gendarme officer of the elite police tactical unit at the scene of the attack. Picture: AFP

Police sources told French media that one of the vehicles contained a hidden gas canister.

The suspect, who was said to be carrying a Palestinian flag, also set fire to several entrance doors of the synagogue, officials said.

France's Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal and the Minister for the Interior and Overseas, Gerald Darmanin, at the site. AFP

Law enforcement officers stand nearby a synagogue following the fire and explosion of cars in La Grande-Motte, south of France. Picture: AFP

Jewish community leader Yonathan Arfi said the incident was timed to target Saturday morning worshippers in “an attempt to kill Jews”.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the incident was “a terrorist act”.

Law enforcement officers stand in front of a synagogue, following the fire and explosion of cars in La Grande-Motte, south of France. Picture: AFP

According to The Mirror, CCTV footage showed a person fleeing the scene before the fiery explosion erupted.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin visited the site in the hours after the attack, with both condemning the attack and Mr Attal calling it “an antisemitic act”.

“What happened here shocks and scandalises all Republicans in our country,” Mr Attat said during the visit.

“Because the reality is that once again, French Jews have been targeted, attacked because of their beliefs.”

Mr Attal said an “absolute tragedy” had been “narrowly avoided” as “there would have been victims” if the synagogue had been full of worshippers.

Former French President Francoise Hollande posted on X: “When a synagogue is attacked, it is France that is targeted. It is unanimous that anti-Semitism must be denounced and fought. I give my unwavering support to all the Jews of France who must be able to live their faith in complete safety.”

Lorsqu'une synagogue est attaquée, c'est la France qui est visée. C’est unanimement que l'antisémitisme doit être dénoncé et combattu. J'apporte mon soutien sans faille à tous les juifs de France qui doivent pouvoir vivre leur foi en toute sécurité. pic.twitter.com/CvisktyZJU

— François Hollande (@fhollande) August 24, 2024

Renaud Muselier, a French politician who is the President of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, shared a photo and said on X: “Support for the Jewish community of La Grande-Motte and France, after this arson attack on the Beth Yaacov synagogue! ️

Soutien à la communauté juive de la Grande-Motte et de France, après cet incendie criminel perpétré contre la synagogue Beth Yaacov ! ✡️

S’attaquer à des croyants, et à un lieu de culte, est d’une lâcheté sans borne.

Les coupables de cette attaque, manifestement antisémite,… pic.twitter.com/ErRwAxjug6

— Renaud Muselier (@RenaudMuselier) August 24, 2024

“Attacking believers and a place of worship is boundless cowardice.

“Those responsible for this attack, which was clearly anti-Semitic, will have to answer for their actions without any clemency on our part.”

Law enforcement officers and firefighters stand in front of a burnt building nearby a synagogue following the fire and explosion of cars in La Grande-Motte, south of France. Picture: AFP

La Motte, which has around 8,500 permanent residents, is a popular seaside resort and visited by more than 100,000 tourists every year.

Earlier this month, Darmanin said that the government had counted 887 anti-Semitic acts in France in the first half of 2024, nearly three times as many as in the same period in 2023.