Two cars set on fire outside a synagogue in southern France on Saturday, August 24 caused an explosion in which a police officer was injured, authorities said. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called the incident at the Beth Yaacov synagogue in the seaside resort of La Motte “an obviously criminal act.” He said “all means are being deployed to find the perpetrator.” The police presence outside Jewish sites in France would be increased following the explosion, the minister added. Darmanin and caretaker prime minister Gabriel Attal were to travel to the site of the explosion on Saturday.
The explosion was likely caused by a gas canister hidden in one of the cars, police said. The town near Montpellier has about 8,500 permanent residents but the population is multiplied during the summer tourism season.
The explosion comes amid a heightened state of alert in France and other European countries because of the Gaza war. Darmanin said this month 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.
The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) called the explosion “an attempt to kill Jews.” The use of a gas canister “in a car at a time when worshippers are expected to arrive at the synagogue is not simply a criminal act,” CRIF president Yonathan Arfi told AFP. “This shows an intention to kill.”
Reuse this content
The article highlights a disturbing incident where two cars were set on fire outside a synagogue in La Grande-Motte, France, causing an explosion that injured a police officer. The French Interior Minister labeled it as a criminal act and vowed to find the perpetrator. This incident prompted an increase in police presence at Jewish sites in the country.
Authorities believe the explosion was triggered by a gas canister concealed in one of the cars. This attack occurred amidst heightened tension in Europe due to the Gaza war. The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France condemned the act as an attempt to target Jews, calling it an intentional act to cause harm.
The incident showcases the need for heightened security measures and vigilance to protect religious institutions and communities. As authorities investigate the incident, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat of hate crimes and anti-Semitic acts in society.
[ad_2]
Source link
