A chilling incident unfolded early Saturday morning in southern France when an explosion outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande Motte left a police officer injured. The authorities are treating the incident as a potential terror attack, prompting heightened security measures around Jewish sites in the country.
The explosion, which also involved a fire at the synagogue’s entrance, is believed to have been caused by a gas canister detonating inside one of two cars parked outside the building. The fire was quickly extinguished, but two doors were damaged. President Emmanuel Macron promptly condemned the attack as “an act of terror”, emphasizing the ongoing struggle against anti-Semitism.
CCTV footage captured images of an individual setting fire to the vehicles. A source close to the investigation revealed that the potential suspect was seen brandishing a Palestinian flag. Another source reported that the individual was carrying two empty bottles and had a Palestinian flag draped around his waist as he left the scene on foot. One of the images also suggested he might have been armed with a 9mm pistol.
This incident comes at a time of heightened tensions in France and other European countries due to the ongoing war in Gaza. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal confirmed that national anti-terror prosecutors have been tasked with investigating the attack. Attal described the incident as “an anti-Semitic act” and expressed concern over the targeting of Jewish communities.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin also condemned the incident as “an obviously criminal act” and assured the public that all resources are being deployed to apprehend the perpetrator. In response to the explosion, the police presence outside Jewish sites in France has been increased.
The attack occurred during Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, when many attend synagogue services. While no religious service was taking place at the time of the incident, a rabbi and four other individuals were present inside the synagogue and thankfully remained unharmed. The severity of the police officer’s injuries has yet to be reported.
The town of La Grande Motte, with its population swelling during the summer tourist season, has a permanent resident base of around 8,500. Minister Darmanin recently disclosed that the French government recorded 887 anti-Semitic acts in the first half of 2024, nearly triple the number recorded during the same period in 2023.
France, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel and the United States, as well as the largest Muslim community within the European Union, has been grappling with a rise in anti-Semitic incidents. The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) labeled the explosion “an attempt to kill Jews”. CRIF president Yonathan Arfi emphasized that the use of a gas canister in a car, particularly during a time when worshippers are expected to arrive at the synagogue, demonstrates an intent to inflict harm, going beyond a simple criminal act.
The explosion serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of anti-Semitism and the need for vigilance and action to combat this persistent form of hatred.
